Android L: Will Your Device Receive the Update?

We’re all eagerly waiting for Google to release their latest version of Android. Sadly, it isn’t out yet and we don’t have any new information about when it will be released. Either way, let’s talk about which devices will receive the update whenever Google does release it, and what you can do if your smartphone is too old.

With every major release of Android, people generally ask the question, ‘will my device be updated?’. It’s never fun to see your friends and co-workers update their smartphones and brag about all the new features they get while you sit there with old software. As the hardware in our smartphones reaches a plateau, manufacturers will use guaranteed updates as a way to entice you into purchasing a new device every couple of years. Even though the smartphone industry is booming right now, the way software updates are being handled is a thorn in almost everyone’s side.

I find it funny that Microsoft can update Windows XP for 12 years before ending support while we’re seeing a 2-year cycle as the standard in the smartphone industry. I know, I shouldn’t be directly comparing smartphones to PCs, but it shouldn’t be the way it is right now. As competition heats up between the various smartphone manufacturers, properly supporting their hardware could be the deciding factor for which company customers support in the future. I know in the last 7 years, there have been tremendous advancements with mobile hardware, so it’s not fair to compare it directly to PCs. Although, when mobile hardware truly starts to stagnate, I would love to see manufacturers update their devices for 5 or maybe even 10 years before retiring them.

As it is now, if you don’t own a smartphone that’s less than two years old, then you shouldn’t expect to see your device updated to Android L. This can change at the discretion of the manufacturer, but as of right now, it’s not anything you should expect. If you want to stay updated with the latest version of Android and your device is over two years old, then you will need to root your device and install a custom ROM. Sadly though, not every device has community developers willing to dedicate their own time and energy into porting or creating custom ROMs.

Earlier this week, we talked about which devices from the major manufacturers will receive the update. However, there are hundreds of different Android smartphones on the market right now. This is why we say that if your device is more than two years old, you’ll be stuck with your current version of Android unless you install a custom ROM. Thankfully, we see ROMs like CyanogenMod taking up the slack in this department, but they never guarantee to support your device. It’s one of those things that you should be thankful for if it happens, but you should never expect it.

The chance of your smartphone receiving a version of CyanogenMod all depends on the hacker/developer support that it’s received. There are two things that need to happen in order to get developer support for your device. The first thing that’s needed is the ability to gain root access. Lots of times, you’ll see bounty threads over on XDA where the community pledges to donate some money if the device is rooted. When a hacker gains root access, they give their PayPal or Bitcoin account so those funds can be sent. Sadly though, we rarely see the full amount actually given to the hacker. I’ve heard that the person who collects the bounty will generally see 10% to 25% of the total bounty amount after the root method is released.

The second thing that needs to happen is the bootloader needs to be unlocked. This is another hack that needs to take place and we generally see a separate bounty thread created for this too. What this does is it allows a developer to create or port a custom recovery for the device. With a custom recovery, you can create ‘nandroid backups’. A nandroid backup is essentially a complete backup of all the available partitions on your smartphone. With this in place, the custom ROM developers can safely experiment and develop the custom ROM without worrying about breaking the device. If something goes wrong, they can simply restore from the backup and then continue tinkering with the device.

This is a lot of work and that’s generally why we don’t see community development with devices that are heavily locked down. It just takes too much time and since there is no guarantee of payment, it’s simply not worth it for most hackers. This is why we see such a massive amount of community developer support for devices like the Nexus line, but not so much for the other locked down devices. This all depends on the popularity of the device though. Since Samsung devices sell by the millions, we’ll see more support for those devices than we will for others. Unless there’s a major change with how the industry works, the customers who spend upwards of $750 (or more) on their smartphones will continue this game of cat and mouse.

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 Android L Update Reportedly Coming November/December

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 Android L Update Reportedly Coming November/December

A new report coming from the folks at Sammobile suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 Android L update will be pushed to the users sometime late November or early December. The South Korean company doesn’t have a history of bringing fast updates, but things might change in the near future.

As you may know, Google introduced Android L back in June and was made available for testing purposes as Developer Preview. Google failed to reveal when the final version of Android L will be released for the public, but most reports are suggesting that the roll out will begin sometime early October. Just like any other previous major Android update, Android L will be released synchronized with the debut of new Nexus hardware. An Nvidia document revealed earlier this month that the Nexus 9 is expected to debut Q3 2014, which probably means that the Android L update will be rolled out for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 owners early Q4.

Naturally, the Samsung fans have been wondering when the Android L update will be rolled out for their devices. If the latest report proves true, then both the Galaxy S5 and the new Galaxy Note 4 will get updated to the latest Android version sometime late November or early December, meaning that the South Koreans would be pretty quick to adapt the new build for their own devices.

Android L Feature Spotlight

Android L Feature Spotlight

Recents

This summer brought us Android L, the latest and greatest update to Google’s mobile operating system. Even though Android L was not made available for the public, Google released Developer Preview builds for both Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 for testing purposes.

Besides allowing developers to see how their apps look and behave in Android L, the Developer Preview builds also allow us to take an early look at the features that will be introduced by the new Android update. This post aims to show you the changes Android L brings to the Recents screen.

Besides changing the way the navigation buttons look like, Google has also changed the way the Recents screen looks and behaves. The Android L Recents has received a Material Design makeover and brings improved functionality.

The little thumbnails of the last opened apps have been replaced by a cards stacked one over another. In fact, the Recents screen looks a lot like Chromes opened tabs screen. It also brings a, how Google likes to call it, document-centric multitasking, allowing certain apps to show more than one card in the Recents screen. For example, Chrome can show a recents card for each opened tab.

Google failed to reveal when Android L will be released for the public, but, if the latest reports are to be believed, the new update will be rolled out sometime late September or early October.

Project Volta

Google took us by surprise and introduced Android L at their annual I/O conference back in June. Android L is the biggest update made to Google’s mobile operating system since its debut back in 2008, both in terms of design and functionality.

Besides drastically improving the interface with the help of Material Design, besides making notifications more accessible, and besides introducing ART runtime, the new Android L update also aims to address one of the biggest issues of modern smartphones: battery life. The autonomy improvements are centered around Project Volta, Google’s attempt to bring better battery life to Android-powered smartphones and tablets.

How big the battery life improvements will be? For example, a Nexus 5 running Android L Developer Preview can get 30 – 40% more battery life which is an insanely huge improvement. How is this even possible? Well the new job scheduler API is one of the factors. It instructs apps to do more of their unimportant tasks while your phone is charging instead of while running on battery.

Another change brought by Android L is the introduction of Power Saver mode into stock Android. You can have battery saver always on, or you can instruct your device to turn on battery saver as soon as your battery drops to a certain level.

The Battery screen in Settings has also been improved. It now brings a better insight on how your battery has been used, is capable of showing how much time you have left until your phone dies, or how much it will take to fully charge your battery.

We are glad to see that Google is making efforts to improve the battery life of the devices running on their mobile operating system.

Setting App

Google showed us Android L for the first time at I/O in June. Even though the new update wasn’t made available for the public yet we’ve already been able to take a look at the new changes it brings courtesy of the Android L Developer Preview builds that have been made available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013.

Besides many other visual and performance changes, Android L also brings improvements to the Settings app. This post aims to bring you an insight on the changes made to the Settings app.

If you had the occasion to play with Android L Developer Preview you probably noticed that the Settings app was completely redesigned and reorganized. The Android L Settings app arrives with a new color scheme, new animations, new toggles and check boxes.

After you update your device to Android L you will be able to use the new search box to easily find that option you were looking for. You will also find a lot of new options integrated in the new Android release. For example, in the Display area, you will now have Adaptive Display and the “Cast Screen” option to mirror your display on a Chromecast device.

There are tons of new features available in Android L, some very important, others just variations of the previous functions.

Material Design

In a surprising move, Google officially introduced Android L earlier this summer at I/O tech conference. They even changed their strategy on how the new update will be released for the public.

As you may know, Google used to introduce two major Android updates a year: one in the summer and the other one mid-to-late fall, but things will be different with Android L. The new Android iteration was officially introduced in the summer, made available for download for testing purposes as Developer Preview, and it will be released for the public this fall, when new Nexus hardware will also see the light of day.

Android L is the most major update Google’s mobile platform has seen since birth and Material Design is a big part of this update. Material Design is a whole new design philosophy and Google talked a lot about it at I/O 2014.

Material Design aims to make Android more intuitive with the help of 3D effects and shadows. The interface is flatter, while the new animations allow you to see where everything came from and where everything goes. Everything slides from somewhere and Google has promised fluid transitions at 60 fps.

The new Android L interface as a while pays more attention to details and it’s more colorful, being the most important change brought to Android in terms of UI. Most native apps have been redesigned and more will follow soon.

Notifications Panel

Google I/O has brought us Android L, the latest and greatest iteration of Google’s mobile operating system. We don’t know yet when Android L will be released for the public or what its final name will be, but we already know what the search engine giant prepared for us in the new update.

As you may know, soon after the I/O announcement, Google released Android L Developer Preview for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 for testing purposes. They even issued an update a few weeks ago.

Android L is no doubt the biggest Android update ever. It’s even bigger than the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich, bringing tons of new features and new functionality. This article aims to bring you an insight over the Android L Notifications Panel.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Android L Notifications panel is the new color scheme. Moreover, the panel now has a transparent background so you can still see what’s on your screen. The Notification Panel can be accessed using the classic swipe down move, but you will definitely enjoy the new animation. You will be able to swipe left or right to dismiss notifications or tap to look at the notification.

The Quick Settings button is gone, but the Quick Settings menu is still there. In order to go to Quick Settings you need to swipe down once you bring up the Notifications Panel, then swipe down again. The Quick Settings menu has been redesign now showing toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, Notifications, Airplane Mode, Locations, Cast Screen, and Auto Rotate. Yes, we Google has finally made a toggle for Auto Rotate.

Android L also introduces Heads-up notifications. So, if, for example, you receive a call while doing something full screen like reading or gaming, the call won’t totally take over your screen, allowing you to decide whether to take the call or continue what you were previously doing.

Lock screen

Earlier this summer, during their annual I/O conference, the folks at Google officially introduced Android L. Even though the Mountain View-based giant didn’t reveal the release date of the new Android iteration, they demoed most of its new features at I/O and made it available for download as Developer Preview.

Android L is the biggest update Google’s mobile operating system has seen since its launch back in 2008. It arrives with tons of new features, but this app concentrates on the Lock Screen changes and improvements.

As you may know, in KitKat and previous Android version, the Lock Screen did nothing else except for showing you the time, how many notifications you have, or allow you to secure your smartphone or tablet. Well, the Android L Lock Screen has learned a couple of new tricks.

The new Lock Screen is now capable of displaying your notifications and it even allows you to interact with them. Furthermore, Google has found a clever way to prioritize the notifications based on the frequency you interact with them.

Now, instead of grabbing that small lock and moving it around, you will need to swipe up in order to unlock your screen. Furthermore, you can swipe left to get to the Camera (was previously available in KitKat) or swipe right to get to the Phone app.

The Android L Lock Screen allows you to swipe away notifications to dismiss them, or tap to open a specific notification. You can also swipe down on a notification to see all notifications from the respective app.

Android L 5.0 Update: Possible Names and Features

Android L 5.0 Update: Possible Names and Features

We’re getting closer to the release of the next major version of Android, so we wanted to talk about what Google could end up calling it. We know that it should start with the letter L, but that’s as much as anyone (besides Google employees) truly knows. Let’s go over the possible names that we could see Google using this year.

Licensed names

Since Android 4.4 KitKat was internally known as Key Lime Pie before they struck a deal, this makes it highly possible that Google could do the same this year. No matter what clues or hints we read about Android L, we could see Google change things right before the latest version of KitKat is released.

With as much battery saving changes going into Android L, Life Savers is something that could actually fit. Or they could take it in a comical direction and go with Laffy Taffy. A few have suggested the possibility of Lemon Heads too, but out of all the licensed names, this one seems the most unlikely.

Generic names

Assuming that Google’s commercial partnership was a one-time deal, we have a lot of other desserts they could choose from – things like Ladyfingers, Lollipop, Licorice, Lemon Tart, Lemon Drop, Lemon Bar, Lava Cake or even Lemon Meringue Pie. We’ve seen the letters LMP appearing in Wi-Fi certification papers just two day ago. It seems like Lemon Meringue Pie just might be the internal code name for the next version of Android.

Features expected in Android L

We are more than excited to see what Google ends up releasing in the final version of Android L. Material Design is one of my favorite new changes and I can’t wait to see which 3rd party application developers can capitalize on this first. Google has also redesigned how Android handles notifications. We’ve seen similar features like this from Paranoid Android, with Hover and CyanogenMod with the Heads Up notifications. This will also bring a non-intrusive call notification window instead of taking you out of your application and interrupting your session. Everyone will benefit from Project Volta and the new Android L battery optimizations. These will be applied system-wide and there will also be a new Job Scheduler API for 3rd party developers to integrate into their applications.

Android 5.0 L Update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10: Speculated Release

Android 5.0 L Update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10: Speculated Release

It’s no longer a mystery that the folks at Google will be releasing the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 later this year. Even though the Mountain View-based giant didn’t reveal when the new Android update will be released for the public, we strongly believe we can make a fairly accurate estimation of its release date based on the company’s previous launches

I guess that most of you know that, so far, Google had the habit of releasing two major Android updates per year: one in the summer, about a month after their annual Google I/O tech conference, and the other one mid-to-late fall. Even though it was rumored that everybody will get to enjoy a new Android update this summer, the search engine giant decided it’s time to change their approach regarding their Android releases. As far as it looks, Google will do the Android L launch Apple-style.

Why Apple-style? Because the Cupertino-based company is usually introducing new iOS versions in the summer, during WWDC, makes them available for beta testing for a few months, then releases them in the fall, when a new iPhone is launched. As you may know, Google previewed Android L at Google I/O back in June, made it available for download as Developer Preview for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 for testing purposes and they will probably release it late-October or early-November, synchronized with the debut of new Nexus hardware.

It was reported a couple of months ago that Google is reading a new program called Android Silver that will replace the Nexus family of devices. Many believed that this will be the end of the Nexus line-up, but a Google employee recently dismissed the rumors. Soon after, rumors of new Nexus hardware started to hit the web. First, we’ve heard of a new 8.9-inch Nexus tablet. The device is reportedly manufactured by HTC and it’s known internally as Volantis. If the reports are to be believed the new Nexus 9 will sport 64-bit processor, 3 GB RAM, 8 MP primary shooter, and aluminum zero-gap construction. The rumor mill also talks about a new Nexus Smartphone, unofficially dubbed Nexus 6. The handset codenamed Shamu is made by Motorola and its technical specifications include a 5.2-inch Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) display, quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB RAM, and 13 MP rear-facing shooter with OIS. There’s no doubt that both the Nexus 9 and the Nexus 6 will run Android 5.0 L out of the box.

As you may know, Google introduced the new release as Android L, but this will definitely not be the final name. Each major Android release has a unique version number and a dessert-inspired nick name. Given the high amount of changes it brings (the update is even bigger than the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich), Android L will surely have version number 5.0. Regarding the dessert name, so far we’ve heard about Lollipop or Licorice. There are even some reports of Lemon Meringue Pie.

The first thing you’ll notice about Android 5.0 L is the new Material Design philosophy. The interface is more colorful and more animated, while the system as a whole is more intuitive courtesy of 3D effects and shadows. The performance will also get a boost and the introduction of ART runtime (replaces Dalvik) and support for 64-bit processors will definitely help. Furthermore, many of the users who got to install Android L Developer Preview on their smartphones and tablets are reporting battery life improvements.

The Android 5.0 L lock screen and the notification bar received noteworthy improvements, as well. The former one now displays notifications and allows you to interact with them. Furthermore, the lock screen notifications are prioritized based on the frequency you interact with them. The notifications bar looks and behaves different in Android 5.0 L. Besides receiving a new color scheme, the notifications bar has also ditched the Quick Settings button. The Quick Settings menu itself is still there, but you will access it differently. In order to get to the Quick Settings toggles you will have to swipe down once to open the notifications bar, then swipe once more. Once there, you will find toggles for Wi-Fi, Mobile Network, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Sound, Location, Do Not Disturb, and Rotation Lock. As you can see, the Do Not Disturb and Rotation Lock toggles are completely new. The Adaptive Brightness replaces Auto Brightness and the Brightness button is now a slider. In the main Settings menu you will be able to enjoy the new search bar that allows you to easily find certain options.

The Android 5.0 L update also brings changes to the status bar. Even though you won’t be able to notice the changes in the home and lock screens, where the status bar is still transparent, you will be able to see that it changes color when you open an app. The status bar is capable of matching the color of the action bar of the app running on the screen in order to bring a unified visual experience. Of course, the devs will have to update their apps in order to take advantage of the new feature.

On the other hand, the multitasking has received a makeover. The recents are now displayed as cards, in a way similar to how Chrome’s recents tabs are displayed. Furthermore, certain apps can show multiple cards in the multitasking menu. Chrome is one of them, being capable of showing a different card for each opened tab.

The Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will be the first one to be publicly released. The Google Play Edition devices will also be among the first to receive the new firmware update, along with Motorola’s supported devices. HTC was one of the first Android OEMs to promise they will be bringing the Android 5.0 L update on their flagships. According to them, both One M7 and One M8 will get the update within 90 days after Google releases the final code. The other big Android Smartphone makers, Samsung, Sony, and LG, will probably release Android 5.0 L for their supported devices sometimes late 2014 or early 2015.

Android L 5.0 “Lollipop” Update Roundup: What’s New, What’s Next

Android L 5.0 “Lollipop” Update Roundup: What’s New, What’s Next

 The most anticipated update Google is planning to release has left many users eagerly awaiting its arrival. It is estimated that Android 5.0 L might be the biggest, most extensive update ever to happen to Android from way back in 2008, when it was first launched. Though not much is known, the update should completely revamp the look of the operating system, allowing it more interactivity, with a much better design. The current release date is still foggy, leaving us to make predictions about its final arrival. If previous tradition has any meaning, the fully functional code should be reaching us by the end of this year. Since no official statements have been made regarding this matter, there is nothing to do but wait for the release and find out more about what the Android 5.0 L will bring to the table.

What is going to be included in the Android L update?

Reportedly, Android 5.0 L is packing well over 5,000 APIs which will increase the overall performance and quality. But it has been mentioned that most of these changes will alter the visual design. In order to strike out and fundamentally change the look of Android, Google created a new interface and named it ‘Material’. This specific design opts out of a flat interface which was a characteristic of the recent UI designs. You can expect to see quite a few visual changes, which could be related to the iOS 7’s sleek visual effects. The changes you will be sure to notice with the Android 5.0 L are real – time shadows, the completely redesigned interface layouts, the simplified nav buttons, as well as 3D multitasking and lock screen notifications. These are just some of the most basic changes you can expect from the Android 5.0 L, as Google is still working on the final version.

64-bit architecture support

Among many other expectations and predictions, there were several that turned out to be true.  This goes for the Android 5.0L, bringing in a brand new 64-bit CPU support onto the list of features, which make this whole operating system a big refreshing boom just waiting to happen! Besides being able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, the improved CPU allows the Android phones or tablets to really make use of the RAM memory they have available. Following the steps of a better performing processor, along comes the enhanced graphic details, which without a doubt, would need a good processor to be supported.

Improved battery life

As Android 5.0 L focused mostly on addressing its users’ most common needs and make for an overall better experience, the battery efficiency has been looked into as well. Featuring a battery saver mode, you will now be able to activate it once your battery reaches a certain percentage. This will gradually disable the extra features you may have enabled, or dim the screen, to keep the battery running for as long as possible. A little tweak introduced, regarding the battery, will be the fact that you will be able to see exactly how much it will take for your battery to get charged at anytime, straight from the lock screen.

Nothing to do but wait!

This is a major update to all Android devices, and from several aspects, quite a necessary one. It all boils down to a matter of time before we will be able to witness the glory of what the Android 5.0 L can really do. The update really made sure no matter was left out, so tighten your seat belts and get ready for its release!