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Twitter now rolling out revamped ‘quote tweet’ functionality to Android

After unveiling a revamped “quote tweet” functionality for iPhone and web users last week, Twitter today has revealed that the feature is coming to Android devices today. With this change, using the quote tweet feature will now embed the actual tweet instead of simply quoting it as plain text.


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Android 5.1 OTA download link for Nexus 4 now available, here’s how to install it

Android 5.1 has been slowly but surely making its way to the slew of Nexus devices that still get updates, and the Nexus 4 was one—until just now—that still hadn’t gotten the latest version of Lollipop. The factory image still hasn’t been uploaded to Google’s developers’ website (we’ll update this post when that’s available), but some Nexus 4 owners are already receiving the update over-the-air and have kindly shared the download link—meaning you can get the update right now straight from Google’s servers.
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Verizon’s LG G3 now receiving Android Lollipop

Lollipop is continuing its stampede, and today it looks like the Verizon LG G3 is next in line. The carrier has posted update documentation on its website, so we can expect a rollout imminently—if it’s not already happening.

Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce an operating system update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. This version brings Android beyond smartphones and tablets, allowing access to apps and Android services on other connected screens like TV’s, cars and wearables. The new material design offers complex animations and 3-D views, 64-bit ABI support and improved runtime.

Verizon is one of the last carriers to bring Lollipop to the LG G3, preceded by the update hitting both the AT&T version and the Sprint variant of the device in February. The update first started hitting Europe in November.

comScore: Android still market leader with 52.8% of mobile OS share

ComScore has released its latest report today, detailing the market share of the major smartphone OEMs and their platforms. Unsurprisingly, Apple is still leading in terms of handsets shipped with 41.7% of smartphones shipped, while Android is still leading the mobile operating system market with 52.8% of the market.
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OnePlus One finally getting Lollipop-based CyanogenMod 12s over the “next few days”

It’s been a long time coming, but OnePlus founder Carl Pei has come out to say today that the upcoming CyanogenMod 12s release for the OnePlus One is going to start rolling out over the “next few days.” Most people using a OnePlus One handset have been using CyanogenMod 11s for quite some time (meaning they haven’t had an official Lollipop-based ROM), but now CyanogeMod12s—based on Android Lollipop—is about to roll out over-the-air. The update “just passed certification today,” according to Pei:

While many have been waiting for CM12s, OnePlus just recently made available another officially-approved ROM based on Lollipop—in the form of Oxygen OS. This fresh Android variant from OnePlus keeps many of the OnePlus One’s original features and keeps things pretty clean-cut in terms of bloat. If you would rather go this route than wait for CM12s to roll out over the next few days, be sure to check out the instructions OnePlus has provided on its forum. And be sure to check out Dom‘s review video as well…

Google’s free photo editing app Snapseed 2.0 gets lens blur, layers, new UI, more

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Snapseed, the excellent free photo editing application, today received its first major update since Google purchased developer Nik Software back in 2012. Version 2.0 arrived in the Play Store with a brand new user interface and a huge collection of new features, most notably including spot healing, lens blur effects, perspective transformation, and a non-destructive editing system that can copy edits from one image to another. The app has been refreshed has a minimalist UI with Material Design influence on Android.

Snapseed’s unique ability to selectively fix small parts of photos — such as improving the brightness level of one dark face in an otherwise bright image — has kept it relevant as a key photo editing tool for years. Snapseed 2.0 expands upon that feature, letting you apply filters and brushes selectively with a brush tool. You can also go into individual layers and make adjustments to changes that were previously applied during the editing process.

Snapseed 2.0 is available for free from the Play Store now, although it’s still rolling out so it may not be available for your device just yet. Additional details are after the break…


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Dunkin’ Donuts app gets Google Wallet integration, lets you recharge cards with a tap

Dunkin’ Donuts is a pretty big breakfast food and beverage chain in the United States, and Google has today announced that they’re partnering with the seller of donuts to bring Google Wallet integration to the Dunkin’ Donuts Android app.

Dunkin’ Donuts now brings its guests a faster way to purchase and recharge their mobile Dunkin’ Donuts Cards in the Dunkin’ Donuts Mobile® App on Android. By simply selecting Google Wallet at checkout, Dunkin’ Donuts guests can recharge their cards with a couple of clicks—no need to type in credit card information anymore. And hungry Seamless customers will start to see the Google Wallet payment option available in their Android app, helping them get their grub – a delicious array of 80+ cuisine types – in a snap.

While you previously had to use a Credit Card (and spend minutes typing in the appropriate information), the latest version of the Dunkin’ Donuts app lets you recharge your perks cards with a couple taps. Selecting Google Wallet from the “Payment method” section will simply ask for your Google account information.

Google says that Seamless, a company specializing in food delivery and takeout, has also this week integrated Google Wallet in their app. You can download both the Dunkin’ Donuts and Seamless apps on the Play Store for free.

Android Lollipop now landing for Galaxy Note 3, Note Edge on Sprint

 

The Android Lollipop updates just keep rolling in, and today’s no exception. Sprint has just published support pages documenting the release of Android Lollipop for the carrier’s Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note Edge smartphones…

Many users are already reporting that the update has hit their device, so you should go check System Update > Update in Settings to see if it’s available for you yet. “Software updates may be released in stages and can take several days for delivery,” Sprint says, though, so don’t get nervous if you don’t see it yet.

Google just yesterday updated its distribution numbers for Android Lollipop, revealing that the mobile OS just recently managed to pass 5% in adoption. Hopefully as more and more Lollipop updates are released (like these), that number will slowly start to make its way up.

Month view is making a comeback in the latest Google Calendar update

Google is usually pretty good at acting on user feedback, and today they’re doing so with the return of month view to the Google Calendar app for smartphones.

The view “provides a high level view of all scheduled events for a full month, allowing people to then tap on a specific day for a closer look,” according to Google’s blog post


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Android Lollipop for AT&T’s Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy S5 to begin rolling out today

 

Lollipop updates continue to roll in, and today it seems—based on tweets from the company’s “ATTCares” Twitter profile—that AT&T is starting to roll out the latest version of Google’s mobile OS to the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and the Galaxy S5.

It’s not clear exactly how much this is going to help, but Google updated its Android distribution data this morning to show that Lollipop has just barely passed 5% adoption. KitKat, meanwhile, is still seeing increases as Ice Cream Sandwich and Jellybean lost ground.

HTC introduces the One M9+ w/ fingerprint scanner, only available in China

We got our first look at HTC’s One M9+ handset weeks ago, but now the Taiwanese company has come out to confirm the phone is indeed the real deal. Don’t get too excited yet, though—as we expected, the smartphone will only be available in China. Most people probably won’t be too disappointed to hear this once they read more details about the phone, though, as it’s actually a pretty underwhelming entry…
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Instagram Android app adds Fade and Color tools, post notifications

Instagram is adding a few new features to its Android app today including two new creative tools for editing photos and a new post notifications feature.

For the two new creative tools, the Fade feature offers “a quiet tone to your photos by softening colors,” while the Color tool allows you to apply a yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, cyan or green tint to the shadows and highlights in your photos.

Also new in the updated Instagram app is a Post Notifications feature that allows you to receive notifications when people you follow post once enabled: You will see an option to “Turn on Post Notifications.

The updated Instagram app, version 6.19.0, is available on Google Play now.

Android 5.1 lands on LG G Pad Google Play Edition as 5.0.2 hits AT&T HTC One M8 (Update: Galaxy S4, too)

Update: It looks like Android 5.0 is rolling out to the AT&T Galaxy S4 as well.

The rollout of Android Lollipop (and, now, 5.1 as well) has just been this consistently nagging leaky faucet, and today comes with the introduction of more software updates on even more handsets. As we told you yesterday, AT&T’s HTC One M8 should finally be receiving the Material-laden software starting today. But on top of that, today also marks the day that LG’s G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition will begin receiving Android 5.1…
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Twitter unveils revamped ‘quote tweet’ functionality, coming to Android soon

Twitter this evening has announced a change to the “quote tweet” functionality of its service. With an update that’s rolling out to Android users soon, using the quote tweet feature will now embed the actual tweet instead of simply quoting it as text.


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LG UX 4.0 unveiled with focus on ‘Smart’ features for upcoming G4

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ5rniR8aaY

LG isn’t set to officially debut the G4 until April 28th, but the company can’t seem to contain its excitement. After unveiling the QHD display that the device will feature last week, the company has this evening announced LG UX 4.0, the interface that will appear on the G4. LG says the focus of its UX 4.0 interface is to provide a simple and easy to use interface that’s also highly customizable.


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Google Wallet for Android updated w/ Maps integration & new transaction search tools

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Google announced today that it has started rolling out an update to Google Wallet on Android with a couple of notable new features. First off, Wallet on Android now packs Google Maps integration. With this integration, you can see exactly where you performed any given transaction on an embedded map. This feature, Google says, will make it easier to notice any sort of suspicious activity that occurs.


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Dropbox updates its Mailbox email app with Material Design

Recently, Dropbox updated its Mailbox email app with Material Design, bumping the version number to 2.0.1. Google first introduced Material Design at Google I/O 2014, but it has definitely been a trend that some apps—even those made by companies as large as Dropbox—are still only just now pushing their visual overhauls. The update includes a new FAB (floating action button), rearranges the navigation drawer and action bar to better fit their purposes, and more.
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Android 5.0 Lollipop w/ VoLTE support now rolling out to Galaxy Note 4 on Verizon

Verizon has announced this evening that it is now rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop to its Galaxy Note 4 variant. The update carries the build number VRU1BOAF and comes in two parts for Note 4 users. AT&T and Sprint have already updated their Note 4 variants to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The update initially started rolling out in Poland first, back in February.


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Skype 5.3 for Android adds updated UI w/ chat bubbles, animated emoticons & emoji support, more

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Skype today released an update to its Android app, version 5.3, which introduces new features that bring the Android version more up-to-date with features recently released for iOS and desktop users.

Among the new features, Skype 5.3 for Android includes an updated UI with chat bubbles, which looks much like the Skype experience already on other platforms.

The update also includes large and animated emoticons, emoji support, and other performance and user experience enhancements.
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Inbox by Gmail gets custom morning, afternoon, and evening snooze times in latest update

Google has announced today that a useful new feature is coming to Inbox by Gmail, namely the ability to customize morning, afternoon and evening “Snooze” times. Once you have the update, all you have to do is open the app, slide left on an email, tap “Pick date & time,” and select the time you’d like to snooze to. You should see a prompt at the bottom of the app asking you if you want to make this your morning, afternoon, or evening time.


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Google Drive for Work and Apps for Education getting plethora of new security features

Google has today announced that it’s bringing new sharing controls, alerts and “audit events” to both Google Drive for Work and Google for Education over the coming weeks. Security is one of the biggest concerns that companies have about moving their data to the cloud, and Google hopes these new features will help make the transition just a little bit easier…


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