release

89 'release' stories September 2011 - July 2015

Leaked 3rd gen Moto G dummy unit confirms IPX7 certification, 2470 mAh battery, more

Stephen Hall Jul 20 2015 - 9:15 pm PT

As Motorola’s July 28th event draws near, more and more leaked images and renders of the upcoming Motorola handset refreshes continue to hit the Internet. This time we’re getting a look at leaked images (via MobileSyrup) of what is assumably a 3rd gen Moto G display dummy unit, and there just so happens to be a sticker affixed that confirms some previously rumored specifications of the device…
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YU announces the Yureka Plus w/ full HD 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon 615 for $157

Stephen Hall Jul 20 2015 - 8:45 am PT

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Almost all phone manufacturers seem to be launching “Plus” handset variants this year, and Micromax subsidiary YU isn’t an exception. The company first launched its YU Yureka handset late last year, and now, you can buy a “Plus” version of the device that packs a higher-resolution screen and some very minor spec improvements across the board…
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ZTE officially unveils the Axon Phone, its high-powered flagship competitor

Stephen Hall Jul 14 2015 - 2:12 pm PT

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ZTE isn’t exactly known for premium smartphones, but now the Chinese company is taking a stab at delivering something that’s a bit on the higher-end. It doesn’t exactly set any records, but it’s definitely a decent piece of hardware — and its internals are about on par with that of this year’s Samsung, LG, and HTC headliners…
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Samsung launches the Galaxy J7 and J5 in China, its first phones with front-facing camera flash

Stephen Hall Jun 19 2015 - 10:25 am PT

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Samsung has launched its first two phones with front-facing camera flash, a feature aimed at a younger crowd that might want to take selfies in lower light. The phones were announced in China today, and are scheduled to be released over the coming week.
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Pushbullet’s new ‘Portal’ app lets you move files from your computer to your smartphone effortlessly

Stephen Hall Jun 16 2015 - 10:24 am PT

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Pushbullet is an essential part many an internet user’s every day routine, and now the company behind the cross-platform file moving app has released a new — and yet very old — way of transferring files from one device to another. The company’s new app, called Portal, lets you effortlessly transfer files from your computer to your smartphone or tablet directly over your local WiFi connection. It’s simple and lightweight, but that’s what makes it powerful.
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Sony’s Xperia Z4 comes to the United States as the Z4v for Verizon

Stephen Hall Jun 16 2015 - 7:23 am PT

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When the Sony Xperia Z4 was announced earlier this year, we weren’t sure when—if ever—it would be coming to the United States. Now, as has been announced this morning by Verizon, it looks like the Japanese company is bringing the device to North America by way of the Big Red. As we noted before, the device definitely isn’t a drastic departure from what we know of as the Xperia Z3. But the Z4v brings some improvements and features that the Z4 doesn’t have…
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Huawei’s $250 P8 Lite comes to the US, sports a 5-inch display, Snapdragon 615

Stephen Hall Jun 3 2015 - 9:34 am PT

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As expected, the Huawei P8 Lite has now landed in the United States. The phone isn’t exactly the first of its kind—the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 and the ZenFone 2 fall into the same category—but it’s a notable addition to the available mid-range offerings in the US. It’s a stripped down version of the company’s P8, as you might expect…
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Dexcom introduces official ‘Follow’ glucose monitoring diabetes app for Android

Stephen Hall Jun 2 2015 - 6:51 am PT

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Dexcom, the company behind one of the leading continuous glucose monitor solutions for diabetes patients, has announced today that their “Follow” mobile app—which has long been available on iOS—is now available for Android devices. There have been many unofficial solutions available in the past, but now Dexcom’s system is officially supported on Google’s mobile OS…
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Google reportedly launching native fingerprint authentication w/ Android ‘M’

Stephen Hall May 21 2015 - 1:38 pm PT

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Google is set to launch Android ‘M’ at Google I/O next week, and now a new report from BuzzFeed News suggests that the company will be launching native fingerprint authentication features with the new version…

Google’s new mobile operating system, Android M, will include native fingerprint authentication, BuzzFeed News has learned. The new functionality will allow users to log in to all of the supported applications on their Android devices without entering a password.

The report is very light on details, but it does note that users will be able to log in to “all supported applications” on their devices without entering a password. Unless there are some unforeseen circumstances, it seems we’ll be hearing more about the feature in just about a week…
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With Google Glass redesign, Tony Fadell says there are no ‘sacred cows’

Stephen Hall May 19 2015 - 10:34 am PT

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Tony Fadell, one of many fathers of the iPod and founder of Nest, was put in charge of the Glass project when the company stopped selling the “Explorer Edition” of the device in January earlier this year. While it was assumed that this would mean that Google was giving the project a restart (and, in fact, Google confirmed this to be the case during its Q4 earnings call), Tony Fadell has recently came out publicly to reiterate this point…

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Google pushes Chrome version 43 to the stable channel w/ Web MIDI support, more

Stephen Hall May 19 2015 - 9:05 am PT

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We told you about Chrome 43 beta back in April, but now Google has pushed it to the stable channel. Not many groundbreaking new features are included with this version, but it does pack Web MIDI support, new security and compatibility fixes, and “a number of small changes to enable developers to build more powerful web applications.”

The Chrome team is happy to announce the promotion of Chrome 43 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux. Chrome 43.0.2357.65 contains a number of fixes and improvements. A list of changes is available in the log.

Security Fixes and Rewards
Note: Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix. We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed.
This update includes 37 security fixes. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Please see the Chromium security page for more information.

The update should be rolling out now.

LG’s Escape 2 quietly comes to AT&T, features a 4.7-inch curved display for $180

Stephen Hall May 18 2015 - 7:42 am PT

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LG has quietly launched the successor to its ‘Escape’ handset today on AT&T, featuring mid-range specs and a price tag to match. The phone has a 4.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720p, but what makes this handset somewhat unique is that it features a curved display like LG’s G Flex and G Flex 2 handsets…

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Motorola starts soak testing Android 5.1 for the first-gen Moto E

Stephen Hall May 15 2015 - 8:38 am PT

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We told you a couple days ago that Android 5.1 had started rolling out to the 2015 Moto E, but now it looks like Motorola is soak testing the same version of Android for its much older first generation Moto E.

As per the change log on the company’s Indian support website:

We are excited to announce a new software update for Moto E (1st Gen.) by Motorola. This update brings Android™ 5.1 Lollipop to your phone along with other improvements.

For now the update is only hitting devices in India, but this means that it will almost surely be hitting other locales around the world soon. Android 5.1 includes support for multiple SIM cards, new device protection features, high definition voice calling, and more.

Google’s ‘Designed for Families’ Play Store program likely to launch at Google I/O

Stephen Hall May 15 2015 - 7:33 am PT

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Google has begun sending out an email to developers, asking them to opt-in their family-friendly apps and games to the Designed for Families program. The Mountain View company first started inviting developers to take part in the initiative about a month ago, aiming to increase discoverability of family- and kid-friendly apps on the Play Store…
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AppChat heard you like apps, so it lets you chat about your apps in its app

Stephen Hall May 8 2015 - 9:25 am PT

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AppChat is a really interesting new app. First released just a week ago in a humble thread on XDA-Developers, the app—which creates little chatrooms for all of your currently-installed apps—has seen the creation of almost 80,000 of these rooms and more than 70,000 messages sent within them. The response has been pretty big, and the app has gone through 6 releases over the last week to make the experience as great as possible.

But what exactly is AppChat?
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Motorola preparing to rollout Android 5.1 to several Moto X models

Chance Miller May 5 2015 - 2:45 pm PT

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Update: Motorola has announced that Android 5.1 is officially now rolling out to the second generation Moto X.

It looks as if Motorola is preparing to rollout a wave of Android 5.1 updates. The company has just shared Android 5.1 Lollipop release notes on its website for a handful of its devices. Motorola has posted the changelogs for Android 5.1 on the 2nd gen AT&T Moto X, 2nd gen T-Mobile Moto X, and the U.S. model of the 1st gen Moto X.

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PSA: Stable release of Android Studio 1.2 now available

Stephen Hall May 1 2015 - 7:47 am PT

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Google has now released Android Studio 1.2 in the stable update channel. As has been the case since the software was first released in beta just about a month ago, the update features a distraction-free mode, inline debugger variables, simultaneous tag editing, better formatting, and more.

Version 1.2 updates Android Studio to IntelliJ 14.1.1, which means (compared to version 1.1) version 1.2 of the environment picks up all of the IntelliJ 14 and 14.1 features, including:

a new debugger which shows variable values inline in the editor, can decompile libraries you don’t have source code for, and can generate a list of objects referring to a selected object

distraction free mode

simultaneous tag editing (where you can edit open and closing tags simultaneously)

editor enhancements like multiple selections, smart backspace indent, and automatic indentation detection for the current file

new and improved refactoring operations

annotation inference, scratch files, improved Gradle support, improved diff view, high-density monitor support, and many more features

See https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/whatsnew/ for more details.

You can grab Android Studio at the Google Developer website, and if you already have it installed, you’ll find that version 1.2 should be available right now.

Google releases new ‘Cloud Console’ app for mobile Google Cloud Platform management

Stephen Hall Mar 25 2015 - 9:16 am PT

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Google has today released a new app called “Cloud Console” in beta, and it brings a convenient mobile management console to those who have solutions running on Google’s Cloud Platform.

Among the app’s highlighted features, you’ll find the ability to check the status of Google App Engine and Compute Engine resources, create custom dashboards to get a “glanceable overview” of your solutions, take action from your mobile handset like stopping virtual machines, and view and manage incidents in Google Cloud monitoring.

Here’s the official description:

The Cloud Console enables you to manage your solution running on the Google Cloud Platform directly from your Android phone or tablet:

* Check the state of your Google App Engine or Compute Engine resources
* Create your own custom dashboard to get a glanceable overview of your solution
* Take quick actions directly from your device such as stopping a virtual machine
* View and manage Incidents tracked in Google Cloud monitoring

We plan on shipping new features regularly. Please give us your feedback in the app by swiping from the left and tapping “Send feedback”.

You can get the app for free on the Play Store.

Update: The app has now been officially announced:

Imagine being away from your desk and receiving automatic alerts when an issue occurs in your Google App Engine app. Or waiting at the airport and stopping your test VMs before leaving for vacation. With the beta launch of Cloud Console for Android, managing Google Cloud Platform from your phone or tablet is possible (and yes, an iOS version is in the works).

Android Auto app arrives alongside Pioneer hardware in US, UK & AU

Zac Hall Mar 19 2015 - 11:35 am PT

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Android Auto is here at last. Google’s mobile platform for integrating content like maps, music, and more from your smartphone to the head unit in your car is now live as the Android Auto app has officially hit the Play Store for download. The new app comes as Google announced via Twitter that Pioneer’s support for Android Auto is now live in three countries…
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VLC pushes new Android & Android TV apps as part of massive cross-platform release

Stephen Hall Feb 27 2015 - 8:09 am PT

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VideoLAN has today launched several updates to VLC across its apps on iOS, Android, OS X, and every other platform where the app is available, marking the first time that the company has pushed such a massive coordinated release. The new versions (with the main app numbered 2.2.0), include several features across the various platforms, and VLC says it took more than a year of volunteer work to put them together…

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Dell introduces new affordable Chromebook 11 w/ 180-degree hinge, better durability

Stephen Hall Feb 12 2015 - 6:30 am PT

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Today Dell is launching the next generation of its education-aimed Chromebook 11, and the laptop comes with many improvements—durability and affordability were the focus with this device according to the company—that make it a worthy upgrade. The device packs an 11-inch, 1366 x 768 resolution screen (which is definitely nothing special), but there are a few things about this laptop that set it apart from the rest (and from its predecessor).
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Android Lollipop finally landing on AT&T LG G3, T-Mobile HTC One (M8) (Update: US Cellular Moto X (2014) too!)

Stephen Hall Feb 10 2015 - 10:50 am PT

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Update: It appears that Android Lollipop is also hitting the US Cellular Moto X (2014) today as well.

According to various reports from Android users around the internet today, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is finally making its way to some of the most important 2014 flagships on some carriers. Specifically, today marks the day the update seems to be landing on the AT&T LG G3 and T-Mobile has confirmed that the update is also today hitting its HTC One (M8).

The update has been very slowly rolling out over the course of the last few months, starting off in December with Google’s own Nexus devices. Most recently, the update started rolling out to the Sprint Galaxy S5, that same device on Verizon, and Google’s own cellular models of the Nexus 7.

It looks like the update is going to clock in somewhere in the realm of 400 to 600 MB in download size, depending on which device and carrier you’re using. Be sure to let us know if you have an AT&T LG G3 or a T-Mobile HTC One (M8) and you’re seeing the update.

Sony quietly introduces new Xperia E4 low-end smartphone w/ two day battery life

Stephen Hall Feb 10 2015 - 8:43 am PT

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Sony has quietly introduced to the world this morning a new low-end smartphone dubbed the Xperia E4. Touting a “high-quality yet affordable design,” the phone sports a 5-inch IPS display, a humble 1 GB of RAM, a 1.3 GHz Quad-core processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and—what might make this cheaper phone attractive to some—two day battery life.

Sadly, this phone isn’t going to sport LTE connectivity. What it will have, though, is a dual-SIM version. According to the specs pages on Sony’s website, the phone will weigh 144 grams, packs a display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, and the phone will be the first from the company to launch with Android 5.0. As for that two day battery life I mentioned—it’s going to be brought by a 2300 mAh battery.

While the company has launched an entire splash page for the new device(s), Sony has yet to mention any timeframe for release or pricing details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phmu_Vra_bw

You can now install CyanogenMod 12 on the Nexus 9

Stephen Hall Feb 6 2015 - 1:35 pm PT

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If you’ve been waiting for CyanogenMod 12 to hit the Nexus 9, you’re in luck. A nightlies release from earlier today packs support for “flounder” (the code name for the Nexus 9), and you can download it right now. This news comes following the announcement in early January that Cyanogen had enabled nightly releases for the latest version of its ROM.

As you know, CyanogenMod 12 (unlike CyanogenMod 11) is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, so you’ll still get Material Design and the other benefits of Google’s latest official release with this build. That said, it’s worth remembering that this is a very early version of the software, so if you go ahead and flash it, don’t expect it to run perfectly (this can be said about basically any build of CM 12 currently).

Direct download below:

cm-12-20150206-NIGHTLY-flounder.zip

(via Android Police)