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Android 4.4 KitKat and Updated Developer Tools

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 31 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
Posted by Dave Burke, Engineering Director, Android Platform



Today we are announcing Android 4.4 KitKat, a new version of Android that brings great new features for users and developers.



The very first device to run Android 4.4 is the new Nexus 5, available today on Google Play, and coming soon to other retail outlets. We’ll also be rolling out the Android 4.4 update worldwide in the next few weeks to all Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 devices, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Edition devices.



As part of this release, we kicked off Project Svelte, an effort to reduce the memory needs of Android so that it can run on a much broader range of devices, including entry-level devices that have as little as 512MB RAM. From the kernel to system, frameworks, and apps, we've reduced memory footprint and improved memory management so Android can run comfortably on only 512MB of RAM. We did this not only on Android but across Google apps, like Chrome and YouTube.



By supporting a broader range of devices, Android 4.4 will help move the Android ecosystem forward. Now all users will be able to enjoy the very best that Android has to offer, on the devices that best meet their needs.



Here’s a quick look at some of the new features for developers:




  • New ways to create beautiful apps — A new full-screen immersive mode lets your app or game use every pixel on the screen to showcase content and capture touch events. A new transitions framework makes it easier to animate the states in your UI. Web content can take advantage of a completely new implementation of WebView built on Chromium.


  • More useful than ever — A printing framework lets you add the convenience of printing to your apps. A storage access framework makes it easier for users find documents, photos, and other data across their local and cloud-based storage services. You can integrate your app or storage service with the framework to give users instant access to their data.


  • Low-power sensors — New hardware-integrated sensors let you add great new features to your apps without draining the battery. Included are a step detector and step counter that let you efficiently track of the number of walking steps, even when the screen is off.


  • New media capabilities — A new screen recorder lets you capture high-quality video of your app directly from your Android device. It's a great new way to create walkthroughs, tutorials, marketing videos, and more. Apps can use adaptive playback to offer a significantly better streaming video experience.


  • RenderScript in the NDK — A new C++ API in the Android Native Development Kit (NDK) lets you use RenderScript from your native code, with access to script intrinsics, custom kernels, and more.


  • Improved accessibility support — New system-wide captioning settings let your apps present closed captions in the style that's preferred by the user.




There's a lot more, so be sure to check out the Android 4.4 platform highlights for a complete overview of those and other new capabilities for developers. For details on the APIs and how to use them, take a look at the API Overview or watch one of the new DevBytes videos on KitKat.



Along with the new Android 4.4 platform we're releasing a new version of the Android NDK (r9b). The new NDK gives you native access to RenderScript and other stable APIs in Android 4.4, so if you've been waiting to use RenderScript from your native code, give it a try.



Last, we've updated the Support Package (r19) with a new helper library for printing images through the new printing framework, as well as other updates.



You can get started developing and testing on Android 4.4 right away, in Android Studio or in ADT/Ant. You can download the Android 4.4 Platform (API level 19), as well as the SDK Tools, Platform Tools, and Support Package from the Android SDK Manager.





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Google Play Services 4.0

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Today we're launching a new release of Google Play services. Version 4.0 includes the Google Mobile Ads SDK, and offers improvements to geofencing, Google+, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs.



With over 97% of devices now running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or newer platform versions, we’re dropping support for Froyo from this release of the Google Play services SDK in order to make it possible to offer more powerful APIs in the future. That means you will not be able to utilize these new APIs on devices running Android 2.2 (Froyo).



We’re still in the process of rolling out to Android devices across the world, but you can already download the latest Google Play services SDK and start developing against the new APIs using the new Android 4.4 (KitKat) emulator.



Google Mobile Ads



If you’re using AdMob to monetize your apps, the new Google Mobile Ads SDK in Google Play services helps provide seamless improvements to your users. For example, bug fixes get pushed automatically to users without you having to do anything. Check out the post on the Google Ads Developer Blog for more details.



Maps and Location Based Services



The Maps and Geofencing APIs that launched in Google Play services 3.1 have been updated to improve overall battery efficiency and responsiveness.



You can save power by requesting larger latency values for notifications alerting your app to users entering or exiting geofences, or request that entry alerts are sent only after a user stays within a geofence for a specified period of time. Setting generous dwell times helps to eliminate unwanted notifications when a user passes near a geofence or their location is seen to move across a boundary.



The Maps API enhances map customization features, letting you specify marker opacity, fade-in effects, and visibility of 3D buildings. It’s also now possible to change ground overlay images.



Google+ and Google Wallet Instant Buy



Apps that are enabled with Google+ Sign-In will be updated with a simplified sign-in consent dialog. Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs are now available to everyone to try out within a sandbox, with a simplified API that streamlines the buy-flow and reduces integration time.



Google Wallet Instant Buy also includes new Wallet Objects, which means you can award loyalty points to a user's saved rewards program ID for each applicable Google Wallet Instant Buy purchase.



New user control over advertising identifier



To give users better controls and to provide you with a simple, standard system to continue to monetize your apps, this update contains a new, anonymous identifier for advertising purposes (to be used in place of Android ID). Google Settings now includes user controls that enable users to reset this identifier, or opt out of interest-based ads for Google Play apps.



More About Google Play Services



To learn more about Google Play services and the APIs available to you through it, visit the Google Services area of the Android Developers site.





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Making your App Content more Accessible from Google

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Posted by Chaesang Jung, Software Engineer



There are many reasons to build or not to build a mobile app as part of your broader mobile strategy. For instance, while apps offer a rich user experience, users can’t access them through Google Search like they do websites. Today, we’re announcing a new Google Search capability, app indexing, that will start to make apps more accessible through Google on Android.



Let’s say that a user is searching for a movie. With app indexing, Google will begin to include deep links to apps in Android search results. When the user taps on the “Open in app” deep links, the app opens up directly to the movie in question.





In this example, in order for the app deep links to appear in search results,



  • The Flixster app supports deep linking

  • The Rotten Tomatoes website has specified that the Flixster app page is an alternate for the web page

  • Google has indexed the Flixster app to determine relevance

  • The user has installed the Flixster app



The end result is that users will have a seamless search experience when accessing your app content through Google.



Google is currently testing app indexing with an initial group of developers including AllTheCooks, AllTrails, Beautylish, Etsy, Expedia, Flixster, Healthtap, IMDb, moviefone, newegg, OpenTable, Trulia, and Wikipedia. Deep links for these applications will start to appear in Google search results on Android, in the US, in a few weeks.



How to get started



If you are interested in enabling indexing for your Android app, you can learn more about our developer guidelines at developers.google.com/app-indexing and sign up. We are expanding our app indexing efforts and will gradually include more developers over time.





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Android for all and the new Nexus 5

Posted by Unknown 0 komentar
Just in time for Halloween, we have two new treats for Android fans. First, we're excited to unwrap our latest platform release, KitKat, which delivers a smarter, more immersive Android experience to even more people. And second, we're introducing Nexus 5—a new Nexus phone developed with LG.

The first thing you’ll notice about KitKat is we’ve made the experience much more engaging: the book you're reading, the game you're playing, or the movie you're watching—now all of these take center stage with the new immersive mode, which automatically hides everything except what you really want to see.

Bringing more Google smarts to Android 
Behind the polish on the screen is the power under the hood. Take the Phone app, which for most people hasn’t really changed since the days of flip phones. Now, we’re making calling easier than ever, by helping you search across your contacts, nearby places, or even Google Apps accounts (like your company’s directory), directly from within the app. And with the new Hangouts app, all of your SMS and MMS messages are together in the same place, alongside your other conversations and video calls, so you’ll never miss a message no matter how your friends send it. This is just a small taste of KitKat—learn more on our site.

Google has always focused on helping users get immediate access to the information they need, and we want to bring this same convenience and power to users on Android. With the new Nexus 5 launcher, Google smarts are deeply integrated into the phone you carry around with you, so getting to the information you need is simple, easy and fast. Swipe once from the home screen to get Google Now literally at your fingertips. Put Google to work for you by saying “OK, Google” to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song you want to hear. And in the coming weeks, we’re enhancing Now with important new card types that bring you information about contextual topics that interest you such as updates from a favorite website or blog.

Reaching the next 1 billion users 
Building a platform that makes mobile phones accessible for everyone has always been at the heart of Android. Until now, some lower-end Android phones couldn't benefit from more recent Android releases due to memory constraints. With KitKat, we've slimmed down Android’s memory footprint by doing things like removing unnecessary background services and reducing the memory consumption of features that you use all the time. We did this not only within Android but across Google services like Chrome and YouTube. RAM (or memory) is one of the most expensive parts of a phone, and now Android can run comfortably on the 512MB of RAM devices that are popular in much of the world, bringing the latest goodies in Android 4.4 within reach for the next billion smartphone users.

Introducing Nexus 5 
Along with our sweet naming tradition, we also introduce a new device with each platform release to showcase the latest Android innovations. For KitKat, we partnered with LG to develop Nexus 5 -- the slimmest and fastest Nexus phone ever made. Its design is simple and refined to showcase the 5” Full HD display. Nexus 5 also keeps you connected at blazing speeds with 4G/LTE and ultra fast wifi. The advanced new lens on Nexus 5 captures more light for brighter night and sharper action shots. And with optical image stabilization, you no longer have to worry about shaky hands and blurry pictures. A new HDR+ mode automatically snaps a rapid burst of photos and combines them to give you the best possible single shot. Learn more on our site.



Nexus 5 is available today, unlocked and without a contract, on Google Play in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea (and coming soon to India), starting at $349. Just in the time for the holidays, Nexus 5 will be available soon at the following retailers: Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack.

Android 4.4, KitKat, which comes on Nexus 5, will also soon be available on Nexus 4, 7, 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks.

How’s that for a treat?

Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Android, Chrome & Apps

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How to Install Google Android 4.2 on the Galaxy S3 (All Variants)?

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 25 Oktober 2013 0 komentar

Let’s face it, Android can be a bit fragmented at times. But who says we need to rely on carriers to push updates? Android is much more than a closed OS, ran by carriers. Thanks to the developers modifying Android, we can choose who we rely on for future updates and when we want to receive them. So with the new release of Android 4.2, there is no need to wait for your carrier to push it out, just install it now, here’s how:

Prerequisites:
  • Rooted Samsung Galaxy S3 (how to)
  • Unlocked Bootloader (how to)
Downloads:
Procedure
  • Place the two files on your SD Card
    •  *Download the files directly on the device to place them in your internal storage 
  • Download Rom Manager
    • *This is a free root required application that allows you to boot into recovery, manage roms, and manage backups. 
  • Reboot into Recovery
    • *Using Rom Manager, navigate to “Reboot Recovery” 
  • Backup your current rom
    • *Using the volume rocker as up/down, navigate to “backup”, and select with the power button. 
  • Clear Data and Cache
    • *Using your volume rocker as up/down, navigate to “Wipe Data/ Factory Reset”, and select with the power button. Then navigate to “Wipe Cache partition”, and select with the power button.
  • Install the Android 4.2 rom
    • *Using your volume rocker as up/down, navigate to “Install Zip from Internal”, then navigate to the “download” folder, and select the Cyanogenmod 10.1 .zip file. 
  • Install the GAPPS
    • *Using your volume rocker as up/down, navigate to “Install Zip from Internal”, then navigate to the “download” folder, and select the GAPPS .zip file
  • Reboot and Enjoy
    • *You’re done!

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The New Nokia Lumia 2520 Tablet

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Nokia has released its first Windows tablet.  Nokia’s Lumia 2520 is the Finnish smartphone maker’s take on a Lumia-style tablet. It looks like a much bigger version of a Lumia Windows Phone.  Microsoft may be buying Nokia’s device business, but for the next few months they are going to be battling for a Windows-based tablet market share.
Lumia 2520
At Nokia World in Abu Dhabi there was the opportunity to compare Nokia’s Lumia 2520 directly with Microsoft’s Surface 2 tablet and find out whether a Nokia-built tablet can take on Apple’s iPad range.
The Nokia Lumia 2520 has a 10.1-inch display and the body is styled just like a Lumia Windows Phone. It is going to be available in red, white, cyan, and black. The device has a 1920 x 1080 sharp display. Colour reproduction is incredibly accurate.  It looks as though Nokia has set its sights high with the display on its first tablet.
Windows RT Tablet
While Microsoft’s initial attempt with Surface RT was plagued with app performance issues, theSurface 2 improved somewhat and Nokia’s tablet is said to be equally as powerful as the Surface 2. Inside there’s a 2.2GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and Windows RT 8.1. The device is apparently quite responsive and multitasking with apps appears as good as the Surface 2. As this is a Windows RT device you can access the desktop Office apps and that’s where Nokia’s keyboard is comes into play.  While the Surface 2 has its own Touch and Type Covers, Nokia has opted for a Power Keyboard. It adds a Surface like keyboard and track pad and has two USB ports.  The keyboard gives a boost of five hours to the battery life of the device. Nokia says the Lumia 2520 should get 11 hours of life from a charge, so it’s possible this device could reach 16 hours of battery life in total with the cover attached.  Now that’s impressive!
[Image via: digitaltrends and digitalversus]

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Stock system dumps (Android 4.3 with official HTC Sense 5.5) for HTC One

Posted by Unknown Kamis, 24 Oktober 2013 0 komentar

First official update with brand new HTC Sense 5.5 for the HTC One arrived today. The new software number is 3.62.401.1 and it's based on Android 4.3. To receive the OTA update your device must be running 2.24.401.8 software and you must own the international version of HTC One (M7_UL). If there is no update for you CID yet, you can download and flash stock system dump instead.

Download links can be found on this blog, under Downloads section - Downloads

The official list of changes from the OTA update:
  • System Improvements
    - Android 4.3 and HTC Sense 5.5 update
  • Video Highlights improvements
    - Updated interface
    - Add soundtracks to videos
  • BlinkFeed improvements
    - Access recommended news from your social network
    - Additional global news sources
    - Save articles to read later or offline
    - Create custom feeds from news media, Twitter and YouTube
  • Music improvements
    - Updated interface
    - Embedded music channel with new scenes
  • Sense TV improvements
    - Updated interface
    - Add MY Picks Page to improve program management
Have any questions or comments? Feel free to share! Also, if you like this article, please use media sharing buttons (Twitter, G+, Facebook) below this post!

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New iPad Air: Lighter & Thinner

Posted by Unknown Rabu, 23 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
Apple announced the iPad Air, its fifth-generation iPad, October 22 in San Francisco at the company's annual unveiling event. Thinner, lighter, and with a more powerful processor, the 9.7-inch iPad Air with Retina Display brings some design and performance enhancements to the best-selling tablet, but not as many additions as we had hoped for, or as rumors suggested.
In fact, we'd say that Apple missed some opportunities to wow us with a tablet that could have perhaps had a larger screen with higher resolution, a higher-megapixel camera, or laptoplike accessories. At the very least, this was Apple's chance to recapture its spirit of innovation and give us something different, rather than what amounts to a polished iteration of what we already had.

For instance, there's no gold-hued version as with the iPhone 5S, and Apple mentioned nothing about incorporating the Touch ID fingerprint sensor that uses biometric data to unlock the phone and approve purchases. Also, by keeping many key specs on par with last year's model, Apple's full-size iPad and iPad Mini are now more similar than ever, except that the Mini costs $100 less.

Design and in-hand feel
From the moment you first pick it up, the iPad Air's weight and slimness are two of its most significant new features. Tipping the scale at just 1 pound, the iPad Air's heft is down from the 1.44 pounds of the fourth-generation iPad. It also measures an extremely thin 7.5 millimeters (0.29 inch), as opposed to the predecessor's 9.4mm depth (0.37 inch) -- that's a 20 percent slimmer build, if you're keeping count. The bezel is also much narrower, too; 43 percent so, in fact.

A tablet's heft plays a crucial role in how quickly your arms tire holding it. In this update, Apple has managed to reduce its hardware's weight by almost half a pound, an impressive feat that you're only likely to notice because you hardly notice it at all. In fact, even though we knew the specs, nothing can prepare you for how light and slim the iPad Air actually feels in real life.
The weight makes it much easier to hold with one hand, and the pared-down bezel makes the screen absolutely pop. Our first impression: the iPad Air is like the iPhone 5S of iPads: refined, reduced, and overall improved.

Performance and other hardware
A new A7 chip inside makes the Air eight times faster than the iPad 4, according to Apple. For reference, this is the same 64-bit chip populating the iPhone 5S. Like Apple's latest smartphone, the Air's A7 also comes with the M7 motion coprocessor, which promises graphics that render at twice the rate of the previous iPad.
In terms of graphics, that means that this iPad Air is 72 times faster than the original iPad in GPU performance, but who's counting? All that really matters is how it stacks up against today's top tablet performers (and more on that to come when we actually get review units in-house.)
In terms of Wi-Fi, there's MIMO wireless technology onboard, but the Air is using the 802.11n standard, not the the more current "ac" Wi-Fi designation.

iPad Air

The iPad Air is Apple's extremely light fifth-generation iPad.
We're sorry, but nobody looks cool taking photos with a tablet. However, if you must (and it's quite possible that your tablet contains the best camera you own), then the iPad Air has a 5-megapixel iSight camera on the rear that Apple says takes improved low-light shots. On the front, video-chatters will find the refreshed FaceTime HD camera, which gives you larger pixels to make images look clearer, according to the claim. Dual microphones will help capture even sound.
Apple is always cagey when it comes to sharing battery capacity details, but the company does list a 32.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium battery, and promises to keep up its 10-hour battery life rate on the Air.

On the software front, free and redesigned versions of core Apple apps -- like iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote, and GarageBand -- have been reworked for iOS 7 and the iPad.

iPad Air or iPad Mini 2?
With the iPad Mini 2's Retina Display and updated specs, the iPad Air becomes a little less dominant in this space. Its similarity to the $399 iPad Mini with Retina Display makes us wonder if Apple is cannibalizing iPad sales for the smaller, cheaper device.
Are you willing to pay $100 more for a larger screen? Yeah, you might be, if you value more expansive screen real estate and rely on that virtual keyboard.

Pricing and availability
As with past models, the iPad will come in both Wi-Fi and cellular versions that support LTE.

 16GB 32GB 64GB 128GB
Wi-Fi  $499  $599  $699  $799
Cellular  $629  $729  $829  $929
The iPad Air ships November 1 in space gray and black, and silver and white colors (but no gold, sorry). Prices start at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi version, with the cellular model coming in at $629. In addition to a wave of other first-release countries, it's coming to China with Wi-Fi, a first for Apple.
Although the iPad Air completely replaces the fourth-generation iPad, Apple will continue to sell the iPad 2 for $399.


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Handwriting input comes to Gmail and Google Docs

Posted by Unknown Selasa, 22 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
(Cross-posted on the Gmail blog)

Gmail and Docs offer wide language support, however in some cases using the keyboard is less than ideal. Whether you’re a student trying to include a foreign phrase in your paper or an international consultant hoping to begin your message with a friendly local greeting, now you’ll be able to use your own handwriting to input words directly into Gmail and Google Docs with your mouse or trackpad. To try it out, enable input tools in Gmail or Docs and select the handwriting input (represented by a pencil icon) of the language you want to use.
       
You can write single or even multiple characters at once in the panel to see them show up in your message or document. Currently, handwriting input is available in Google Docs for over 20 languages and in Gmail for over 50 languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Russian.
Handwriting input makes the internet easier to use by people worldwide and is also part of a larger effort to break the barrier between languages, check it out in Google Mobile Search, Google Translate (Web, Android and iOS), and the Chrome browser.

Posted by Xiangye Xiao, Product Manager

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Nokia lumia 1520 phablet specs price and release date

Posted by Unknown Senin, 21 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
Nokia named his new nokia lumia 1520 as phablet and its going to hit the market very soon.the specification and the features of nokia lumia 1520 already leaked on the internet.This device may be released today at the nokia's meet so every one is exited about the new nokia lumia 1520 which is the first phablet ever.

Nokia lumia 1520 phablet specs price and release date


The screen size of nokia lumia 1520 is 6inch with 1080x1920 full HD resolution.As per the processor part it with powered with quad core snapdragon 2GHz processor.this makes the handset very powerful.Along with this processor 2 GB of RAM made this device more awesome.Nokia Lumia 1520 runs on Windows 8.1 with the solid battery of 3400 mAh.
Nokia lumia 1520 phablet specs price and release date

Always the camera part of Nokia lumia is always special so this nokia lumia 1520 is provided with 20 MP pure view camera.Nokia lumia 1520 is expected to launch on 22 October 2013 at the price range of $699.99 which is 43200 indian rupees.For more details click the links given below

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Android terminology explanation and why ROOT isn't a crime

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This Android terminology dictionary will be growing in time. If you have any suggestions for terms to be included here, please leave a proper comment below this article. The purpose of this dictionary is to explain basic and fundamental Android terminology to a regular "noob" Android user. It is supposed to be written in language that everyone can understand.

Related articles:

ROOT (Superuser) - special user account used for system administration with the highest possible access permissions. The root/superuser account on Linux/Android OS has the same purpose as the Administrator account on MS Windows. For some reason however the term "root" has a very pejorative meaning in the Android world. Many users believe that "root" (or "rooting") is a forbidden fruit that might brick their Android device, void its warranty, make it unstable, unsecured or even explode in some situations.

What is the truth? Very simple - just go to the Control Panel on your PC/notebook and in User Accounts check the type of your account. Is it "Administrator"? Ouch! You're rooted! I really hope you can live with that. Anyway, it seems that having account with an Administrator rights on the Windows powered machine is nothing unusual. What you need to realize, is that having Android powered device without root access is like using the "Guest" account on your Windows computer.

So what will root access give you? Well, it might give you everything, but might give you nothing too. Basically it all depends on what the user would like to do with his device. Root access by itself doesn't change anything. Just like Administrator account on Windows, you can use its capabilities and change almost everything on your device or you might just keep using the OS as it is.

To add root access to Android device you need 2 files - Superuser.apk and su binary. The su binaries people commonly use are modified to latch onto a companion app, which prompts the user when an app requires root access.


ROM (proper definition) - Read Only Memory. Actually it has nothing to do with what most people think. What does an internet definition say about it? "Read-Only memory is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware".


ROM (wrong definition) - most people call Android installation package a "ROM" or a "custom ROM". What we call a "ROM" is just a content of /data, /system and boot partitions. Their technical name is "update package". Flashing this package is nothing other than just replacing particular files on device partitions. Where do these files come from?
  1. Developers can compile builds from Android Open Source Project (AOSP) or similar open source projects like Android Open Kang Project (AOKP) or CyanogenMod (CM).
  2. They can modify closed source vendor images (HTC, Samsung, Sony, LG) by extracting factory system partitions, images (i.e. system.img) or dumping the system partition directly from the device.
What does a typical "custom ROM" looks like? It's a .zip package with files organized in a specific order - applications, framework, binaries, libraries and other files required for proper system work. Imagine a .zip package with "Windows, Users and Program Files" folders inside. That, if we massively simplify it, is what an Android "custom ROM" package is made of.

"Custom ROMs" usually contain root access, so flashing a "custom ROM" results in rooting the device, BUT rooting the device does not always mean flashing a "custom ROM" because you can add root access on a stock system too by adding the su (superuser) binary.

The best name for Android "custom ROM" would be a “modified system zip package”. Why .zip? Because update.zip packages were originally designed for over the air (OTA) updates. So both OTA update and custom "system zip packages" have more less the same construction - system files with the proper update-binary/updater-script (inside META-INF), compressed into ZIP archive. The only method to install (or "flash") ZIP package is via Android recovery.


Boot - The boot.img file is commonly mistaken for the Linux kernel that powers Android. It is actually the image containing the kernel and a ramdisk. The kernel is the fundamental layer of the operating system that controls the input and output of data in the system, it mounts the ramdisk during the boot sequence.


RUU - ROM Update Utility used by HTC to flash/update firmware on HTC device. Again - not very fortunate naming. In fact RUU does contain some "low level" firmware like bootloader, radio, touch panel drivers but it also contains entire EXT3/4 partitions like system or data, which surely can't be considered "Read Only Memory".


Firmware - a combination of persistent memory, program code and data stored in it. "Firmware" is actually a better term than "ROM", but many people are used to calling "Firmware" everything else that comes in the RUU except from system.img. The content of so called "firmware.zip" (called that by HTC itself) was described in this article.


S-OFF/S-ON - S-OFF stands for "Security OFF" and S-ON for "Security ON". It's a term specific to HTC devices (and refers to digital signature checking on the bootloader "hboot"). Retail devices always come with SHIP S-ON locked bootloaders. Hboot can also be found in an engineering version (ENG as opposed to SHIP), but it's not easy to get such a device.


Bootloader - a computer program that loads an operating system and has all the parameters for how to boot the OS. Bootloader is located on a separated partition on your device and is responsible for a low level security on your device. Extended bootloader commands (usually executed via fastboot protocol) can basically manage the whole device, including possibility to gather all device sensitive details (like IMEI, software version, serial number and more), flashing a new operating system or recovery, updating bootloader and other parts of the firmware or even formatting EXT partitions. This is why some vendors (like HTC) lock the bootloaders on their devices to avoid giving end-users too much control over the device.


Fastboot - diagnostic protocol used primarily to modify the flash filesystem via a USB connection from host computer. After enabling the protocol on the device itself (entering "fastboot" mode from inside the bootloader), it will accept a specific set of commands sent to it via USB using a command line, for example "fastboot flash boot boot.img" or "fastboot erase cache".


Android Recovery - a separate partition on your device responsible for installing original OTA updates (.zip) and performing some basic operations on partitions (wiping, formatting, mounting). In some way Android recovery is a sort of mini-OS because it has its own kernel (so it boots independently from the main OS) and on custom recoveries (like 4EXT Recovery, TWRP Recovery) you can run simple applications like AROMA installer or AROMA Manager. Custom recoveries also provide touch support and many advanced features like partition conversion (EXT3--->EXT4), Nandroid backup, possibility to use themes, different wipe and format options, permissions fix and more.

Android Recovery can be based on open source or closed source code. The Android kernel inside the recovery must be always based on open source code.


CID/MID - CID (Carrier ID) and MID (Model ID) numbers are specific tags used by HTC to match a particular device with proper software updates. Many Android devices need different settings, hardware drivers and applications depends on the region of the world or carrier. One device can be available in a few different variants, for example HTC One has 6 different models IDs (MIDs) - PN0711000 (Taiwan), PN0714000 (Austraila, Hong-Kong, Singapore), PN0710000 (Europe), PN0712000 (United States and Canada), PN0771000 (China) and PN0720000 (U.S. Sprint). To check your current MID/CID number you need to use fastboot protocol and type "fastboot getvar all" command or respectively "fastboot getvar mid" / "fastboot getvar cid" if you don't want to see all variables output.


NANDroid backup - an 1:1 copy of the /system, /data, /cache and boot partitions. NANDroid backup can be created and restored using custom Android recoveries like CWM, EXT4 or TWRP. The form of NANDroid backup vary from different custom recovery - could be .tar, .zip, .img or other. NANDroid backup is saved on your SD-card (either virtual or physical) and can be easily transferred to the PC. It's highly recommended to do a regular backup, but to be even more secured, remember about having backup of the backup too.



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Lenovo Announces Miix2, Its First 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet

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While a huge chunk of the tech world is looking forward to tomorrow, when Apple makes the official announcements about its latest iPads, the rest of the world continues breathing. In fact, other tablets are being designed, announced, and released as well. One of them is the Lenovo Miix2, which is the brand’s first 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet.

Lenovo-Miix-2_7_2D42D276

Windows users will have mixed reactions to the recent Windows update, as is the usual case, but the Miix2 does catch the eye – not only because of its name, which I honestly think leaves much to be desired.
Still, in many circles, tablets that run on Windows are widely accepted, and Lenovo is not a brand to ignore in this space. The Miix2 is being summed up as “a Windows 8.1 multi-mode device that packs an Intel quad- core processor and IPS wide-angle, high-definition display into a small tablet form factor”.
Pertinent specs
What can one expect from the Miix2? Here are some of the most important details.
  • Intel®Bay Trail-T Quad Core processor
  • Integrated Intel HD Graphics (Gen7) with Clear Video HD technology
  • 8.35mm thick
  • weighs  350mg
  • 16:10 widescreen experience
  • 10-point multi- touch WXGA display
  • 800 x 1280 resolution
  • 178-degree viewing angle
  • 2 webcams: one in front (2MP) and one in back (5MP)
  • pre-loaded with Windows 8.1
  • up to 128GB of eMMC onboard storage (expandable up to 32GB with micro-SD slot)
Additionally, the “Start” button has been brought back (with the new Windows). Since Windows tablets are rather known to be used for productivity apps, it is great that the Miix2 comes pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013. With the tablet priced at $299 (approximately, of course), having the pre-installed software makes for a nice discount.
For Windows tablet fans, the Lenovo Miix2 is something worth looking into for the holidays. Whether it’s a gift for yourself or someone else, it just might do the trick. Accessories such as covers and styluses are to be purchased separately, naturally.

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Nokia’s First Tablet: The Lumia 2520 Rumours & Release Date

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Nokia was always at the forefront of the mobile industry. It has proved it can produce a decent smartphone based on Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system but what about plans to move into the tablet market? Here’s what we know.
It has emerged that Nokia’s first tablet will be part of the Lumia brand and will carry the product code 2520, hence the name the Lumia 2520.

Nokia Tablet Lumia 2520

Thanks to a few leaks we have a good idea of what the tablet will look like. Images show that it will have a bright red, plastic back, which is in-keeping with the current Lumia design. Earlier this month leaks from @evleaks show the device to have a 16:9 ratio screen that is designed to be used in a horizontal orientation. From the images it looks like the volume rocker is on the top right hand side of the frame.
The tablet also has a wide bezel, in which sits a front facing webcam but there are no clue as to the specs.

Tablet Specs And Operating System

Any information on specs for the Nokia tablet are pure speculation at the moment but rumours suggest that the device will have a 1080p, 10.1-inch display, a 6.7 megapixel rear-facing camera and ten hours of battery life. It is also rumoured to have LTE support, 32GB of storage, a microHDMI connector and a micro USB port. Whether these rumours are true, we’ll have to wait and see.
What nobody seems to know is what operating system Nokia’s first tablet will run on. It’s possible that it will run on Windows RT but it would make more sense for it to be powered by Windows Phone 8, especially seeing as Microsoft is working on an update that will allow Windows Phone 8 to run on tablet-sized devices. As with the specs, we’ll have to wait and see for that one.

Release Date

There is no confirmed release date for the Lumia 2520 yet but Nokia will be showing off the new tablet for the first time on October 22nd.
That’s the same day that Apple will be showcasing its next generation of iPads. Apple’s unveiling date was supposed to be the 15th but it was moved to the following week.
Hopefully for Nokia, the time difference in Abu Dhabi will allow the device to be unveiled first.

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Android TV To Replace Google TV

Posted by Unknown Minggu, 20 Oktober 2013 0 komentar
According to a recent report, the search giant is officially abandoning the Google TV brand. So, is it farewell to Google TV altogether? Well, no, actually as it is just the brand designation that is being killed off. Google-based television services will continue onward; they will now be called Android TV.  According to GigaOm, this hasn’t been officially confirmed by Google as yet, but unnamed partners are saying that Google will now rebrand its service as “Android TV.”

Android TV

Google TV first hit the market in Oct. 2010 via the Logitech Revue and from that time on, it’s been a struggle to keep up to date the version of Android that powers Google TV, compared to the version of the Operating System found on various mobile devices.  The company announced back in May that Android 4.2.2 would come to Google TV services within a few months; LG appears to be the first in line of the major manufacturers taking Google up on its offer, with an update to their devices most likely to be scheduled to arrive in late October.  However, once manufacturers continue on with Android TV, it will presumably be easier for them to update to successive versions of Android e.g. 4.4 KitKat.  This depends upon manufacturer timelines, although Google is supposedly relaxing its requirements for those looking to use Google TV in their devices. According to GigaOm, Google originally required those making use of Google TV to include a QWERTY keyboard with their devices, in addition to them meeting various hardware requirements.
A number of Google partners are not using the “Google TV” logo anymore, preferring instead to describe their various TV’s as being able to access “the latest Google services” for televisions. A number of Google’s developers aren’t even using the Google TV branding, e.g. a recent “Android TV Developer Day” event scheduled in Seoul.  Even various Google employees have now started to refer to themselves as being affiliated with “Android TV” instead of Google TV across social media platforms.  In the mean time, whilst we wait for Android TV to hit officially,we can still use Chromecast to entertain ourselves.  Google has seen much success with its $35 Chromecast dongle, which allows users to “cast” Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, from a mobile device or PC to their TV.

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Disney Touchscreen Lets You Feel Textures

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“Rendering 3D tactile features on touch surfaces” – that’s how Disney Research describes their new creation. While many of my generation would probably think Ariel, Belle, and all the other not-your-usual princesses of our childhood, this new development will certainly catch the attention of any tech head, Disney princess fan or not. And, it does what it says on the tin: the technology will allow users to actually feel what’s displayed on the screen.

Tactile-Bump-image4b

How do they do it?
It’s all about friction, that irritating force of nature that brings about a lot of complications in other applications. In this case, however, friction made it possible for the brilliant Disney minds to make this touchscreen. From the Disney Research press release:
“Our brain perceives the 3D bump on a surface mostly from information that it receives via skin stretching,” said Ivan Poupyrev, who directs Disney Research, Pittsburgh’s Interaction Group.  “Therefore, if we can artificially stretch skin on a finger as it slides on the touch screen, the brain will be fooled into thinking an actual physical bump is on a touch screen even though the touch surface is completely smooth.”
Bottom line: It’s all about tricking our brains into thinking we’re feeling things.

Applications
We don’t need to have Einstein’s IQ to see the potential of this technology, do we?
Imagine playing Infinity Blade (1, 2, or 3 – it doesn’t matter) on your iPad with its awesome graphics. Now imagine having the additional tactile feedback. Any other gaming tablet with this feature would be very welcome as well!
How about exploring a topographical map or a 3D view of a place you want to visit? Again, add a tactile aspect to that.
Then there’s the education sector, which is already a huge “fan” of using tablets in the classroom. Imagine all the applications that can be taken to the next level with this kind of touchscreen!
This is interesting, at the very least. Here’s a video for more details.


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