WebProNews

Tag: Android 4.2

  • Jelly Bean Is Now On A Majority Of Android Devices

    Last week, Google finally unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat alongside the new Nexus 5. While a new version of Android is certainly cause to celebrate, most of the world is still going to be using Jelly Bean for the foreseeable future. That’s a good thing though as a majority of the world’s Android devices are now running Android 4.1 through 4.3.

    In the latest update to the Android distribution numbers, Google shows that Jelly Bean is now on 52.1 percent of all Android devices. Unsurprisingly, version 4.1 is still the dominant form of Jelly Bean with it running on 37.3 percent of all devices. Version 4.3 has also seen some relatively strong growth as it now commands 2.3 percent of the Android ecosystem despite being introduced back in July.

    Jelly Bean Is Now On A Majority of Android Devices

    It’s been almost a year and a half since the first version of Jelly Bean was introduced at Google I/O 2012. Since then, Android has become the dominant mobile OS on the planet, and it has even started to appear on more than just mobile devices. In the last year, Jelly Bean became the OS of choice for a new line of handheld and home gaming consoles, like the Nvidia Shield and Ouya.

    As for the future, it’s looking pretty bright for KitKat. Google announced last week that it intends to make KitKat available to all Android devices regardless of their specs. This should help eradicate Gingerbread from its still powerful position on the Android distribution charts as it has only remained relevant due to the large number of low-end devices that are sold in emerging markets like China and India. With Android 4.4, the latest version of Google’s mobile OS will finally be able to run on these devices thus allowing low-end device manufacturers to stand on equal footing with the big guys when it comes to which Android version they can offer consumers.

    [Image: KIT KAT/YouTube]

  • Lenovo Announces Its First Android Convertible Laptop

    It’s been rumored for a while now that Google would some day introduce a line of Chromebooks that run on Android. That rumor hasn’t materialized yet, but more PC OEMs are now getting in the business of creating Android tablets that double as laptops.

    Lenovo announced the A10 today, a convertible that functions as both a 10-inch tablet and a fully-featured laptop. It’s also cheap with estimates coming in at $340. It’s no slouch, however, as it sports some decent specs.

    According to the press release, the A10 sports a 10.1-inch 1366×768 display that’s powered by a RK3188 quad-core 1.6GHz CPU, Android 4.2 and 2GB of RAM. It also sports 32GB of internal storage, a VGA Webcam, two USB 2.0 ports and one HDMI port. While the resolution may not be as high as other 10-inch tablets, it does feature the most powerful SoC in Rockchip’s lineup.

    Besides the specs, the Lenovo A10 has a few features that help to set it apart from the pack. For starters, Lenovo built a custom UI that the A10 will use when in laptop mode that includes an app launcher, task bar and status bar “for quick, intuitive access to the app library and desktop.”

    When the keyboard is flipped around to what Lenovo calls “stand mode,” the A10 becomes a multimedia Android tablet. It sports stereo speakers so all of your apps, games and movies will actually sound better than it does on most mono-speaker tablets out there.

    “With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Why should they be required to switch and duplicate to use their laptop? Lenovo’s A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. “Thin and light, with multiple modes and user-inspired innovations for an outstanding user experience … the A10 is uniquely Lenovo.”

    There’s no official price or date yet for the A10, but we’re sure to find out soon enough.

    [Image: zaKTECH1/YouTube]

  • Mad Catz’ M.O.J.O. Enters The Micro-Console Market In December

    Mad Catz is a name that many old-school gamers will associate with subpar third-party accessories while modern fighting game fans love the company for its high-quality fight sticks. Both probably never thought the company would be getting into the console business though.

    Mad Catz announced today that it will be officially entering the micro-console market on December 10 with the M.O.J.O. The $250 micro-console will join the likes of the Ouya and Nvidia Shield in attempting to convince consumers that playing mobile games on TVs is somehow preferred over their native home on mobile devices.

    “The M.O.J.O. Micro-Console for Android has attracted strong interest due to its high-performance hardware, open software platform and the ecosystem of accessories,” said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. “M.O.J.O. is the center piece of our GameSmart mobile initiative and brings core gaming experiences to the mobile platform.”

    So, what’s this “high performance hardware” that Richardson speaks of? After all, the Ouya claimed the same thing, and its Tegra 3-based chipset has only proven to be a hurdle in bringing mobile games to the big screen. Well, the M.O.J.O. will be one upping the Ouya with a Tegra 4 CUP clocked at 1.8GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, HDMI out capabilities and a microSD slot with support for up to 128GB flash carts. It also runs on Android 4.2.2 so it will be able to take advantage of all but the most advanced mobile graphics technologies.

    Even with those specs, will it be enough to convince people that this micro-console thing isn’t just a fad? It’s hardware is definitely capable of playing some pretty games, and its controller doesn’t look cheap. Beyond that, its only real defining feature is that it can stream PC games from your PC to the living room. That will certainly excite some PC gamers, but many of them will probably wait for the presumably more affordable SteamOS-powered streaming machines.

    Still, if you find yourself captivated by Mad Catz foray into the micro-console space, you can check out more details here.

    [Image: Mad Catz]

  • Donut And Eclair Are Finally Wiped From The Android Distribution Charts

    For the past few months, Android versions 1.6 and 2.1 have been teetering on the brink of oblivion in the monthly Android distribution numbers. With the proliferation of Jelly Bean, these two early versions of Android are finally on their way out.

    In the September update to the Android distribution chart, Google reveals that Donut and Eclair – Android 1.6 and Android 2.1 respectively – are no longer being tracked. The official reason is that the new Google Play store app only supports Android 2.2 and higher, but Google also notes that versions older than Android 2.2 only account for about 1 percent of all devices signing into Google’s servers.

    With two versions being eliminated, we’re left with only five versions of Android on the distribution chart. Out of those five, the three most prominent Android versions are Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean continues its meteoric rise as it gains almost 4 percentage points over last month. Ice Cream Sandwhich and Gingerbread continue to see declines, however, as more people are upgrading to Jelly Bean or buying new devices with the latest OS installed.

    Donut And Eclair Are Wiped From The Android Distribution Chart

    So, what’s going on the chopping block next? I don’t think Google will remove Google Play support for Android 2.2 anytime soon, but usage numbers may soon necessitate the removal of Honeycomb, or Android 3.2, from the list. Ice Cream Sandwich made the tablet UI of Honeycomb obsolete, and the usage numbers call its relevance into question.

    As for the future release of KitKat, it will be interesting to see distribution numbers once it’s out in the wild. If my theory on KitKat being Google’s big push to put Android on more devices is correct, we could see the Android distribution charts taking devices like game consoles and smart watches into account. Mobile devices will still be the primary home of Android, but it will be interesting to see if other devices can make a dent in the distribution numbers.

    [Image: Android Developers]

  • Jelly Bean Dominates The July Android Distribution Numbers

    Last month, we saw that Jelly Bean had finally overtaken Gingerbread as the most dominant Android operating system on the market. The slow death of Gingerbread has been well documented over the last year, but it looks like Jelly Bean is really starting to pick up the pace.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers for the end of July, it’s revealed that the first iteration of Jelly Bean – Android 4.1 – is on more devices than Gingerbread. Last month, it took the combined efforts of both Android 4.1 and 4.2 to dethrone Android 2.3.

    Getting into specifics, Jelly Bean as a whole is now on 40.5 percent of all Android devices. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on over 50 percent of all Android devices at the end of August. Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread continue to cede ground to Jelly Bean as both have dropped to 22.5 percent and 33.1 percent marketshare respectively.

    Jelly Bean Dominates The July Android Distribution Numbers

    Next month will see the debut of Android 4.3 in the distribution numbers. You can expect the numbers to be pretty low as only Nexus devices will have been upgraded by then. Many handset manufacturers are still working on upgrading their devices to Android 4.2 so it will be a while before we see Android 4.3 gain any prominence.

    Of course, the distribution numbers also tell us that we may be getting closer to the launch of Android 5.0, or Key Lime Pie. Google can only refine Jelly Bean so much. As more people adopt the latest OS, they’ll want something new. That something new may just be found in Key Lime Pie.

  • Jelly Bean Is Finally On More Android Devices Than Gingerbread

    Over the last year, we’ve seen Android 2.3, or Gingerbread, slowly lose its majority share of Android distribution. Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich, helped start the decline of Gingerbread, but it was Android 4.1/4.2, or Jelly Bean, that really helped kick Gingerbread to the curb.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers released on Monday, Google revealed that Jelly Bean is finally the dominant Android operating system. By combining both Android versions 4.1 (32.3 percent) and 4.2 (5.6 percent), Jelly Bean is now on 37.9 percent of Android devices. Gingerbread is still hanging onto second place, however, with 34.1 percent.

    Jelly Bean Has Finally Eclipsed Gingerbread

    As you can see above, Ice Cream Sandwich, much like Gingerbread, is ceding ground to Jelly Bean as more and more Android users upgrade to devices that use the latest OS. As this trend continues, developers will be able to better target Jelly Bean and ICS devices without having to worry about Gingerbread users.

    Next month’s numbers will undoubtedly see the continued rise of Jelly Bean, but it will also hopefully mark the introduction of Android 4.3. The newest version of Jelly Bean is rumored to be coming out this month alongside the rumored new Nexus 7 tablet. Google will upgrade its own Nexus devices to Android 4.3 first, but it shouldn’t take long for carriers to start upgrading some devices to the newest Android version.

  • HTC One Nexus Edition With Stock Android May Be In The Works [Rumor]

    One of the pleasant surprises out of this year’s Google I/O was the announcement of a Nexus edition of the Galaxy S4. Now Google may be working on a similar deal with HTC.

    Anonymous sources speaking to Geek say that HTC is now working on a version of the HTC One that will ship with stock Android 4.2.2 instead of its HTC Sense software. If true, it could potentially be a major win for HTC as it’s aiming to capture more of the market that’s been cornered by Samsung in recent years.

    Of course, there is one question we must ask – why bother with a Nexus edition of the HTC One when people can already buy the HTC One developer edition and flash their own custom ROMs on the device? Well, some people adore the vanilla Google experience, but don’t know how to install custom ROMs. Letting HTC and Google do all the work for them could boost sales of HTC’s flagship while getting the definitive Google experience, ads and all, into the hands of more users.

    So, when can you expect to see the fabled Nexus edition of the HTC One arriving in stores? It’s said that we’ll get an announcement within the next two weeks with a release following later in the summer.

    It should be noted that this is merely a rumor for now, but Geek broke the news that Google would be releasing a Nexus edition of the Galaxy S4 before its announcement at Google I/O. I wouldn’t be surprised to see HTC follow suit.

  • Your Old Galaxy S III May Soon Look More Like A Galaxy S4

    Samsung has another hit with the Galaxy S4, but not everybody buys the latest and greatest mobile devices. Some people are perfectly content with buying last year’s Galaxy S III. Luckily, they won’t have to be jealous of the Galaxy S4 for much longer as many of the same features will soon be added to the S III via software update.

    SamMobile got its hands on the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S III and found that it contains many of the software features introduced with the Galaxy S 4. Unfortunately, that means many of the new features of the S4 that are dependent on hardware won’t be making it over. Despite that, there’s still some good stuff in store for those who are deciding to hold onto their Galaxy S III.

    Here’s the list of new additions courtesy of SamMobile:

  • New S4 Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, two Unlock effects (Ripple and Light), improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
  • New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
  • Daydream
  • Driving mode
  • Actionable notifications
  • New Additions in Notification Center
  • Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the S4)
  • Addition of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
  • Gallery modes have white background (When changing gallery modes to 3D the background changes to white)
  • Full screen Samsung apps
  • New S-Voice (from S4)
  • New smart switch widget

    • If you’re more of a visual kind of person, SamMobile has also released a video walkthrough of the new Galaxy S III firmware:

    On a final note, you can grab the firmware here if you can’t wait for Samsung to release it. The leaked 4.2.2 update is still an early build, however, so amateurs may want to wait for Samsung to release the official update later this year.

  • Google To Sell Galaxy S4 With Stock Android [Google I/O 2013]

    Google To Sell Galaxy S4 With Stock Android [Google I/O 2013]

    At the end of the Android portion of the Google I/O 2013 keynote, Google’s Hugo Barra announced that it will start selling a new Android device on its Play store. Those expecting a Nexus device were in for a surprise though.

    Barra announced that it will be selling the Galaxy S4 with stock Android instead of Samsung’s TouchWiz software. This version of the Galaxy S4 will come with all the features one expects from stock Android, and it will receive updates directly from Google.

    More importantly, Google’s own version of the Galaxy S4 is sold unlocked, and can be activated on AT&T and T-Mobile. It’s the first official LTE phone to be sold on Google Play. As expected, the bootloader is also unlocked.

    Those expecting a subsidized Google Play price are going to be disappointed though. Barra announced that the stock Android Galaxy S4 will be available on Google Play for $649 on June 26.

  • Looks Like We’ll Be Seeing Android 4.3 At Google I/O

    UPDATE: Nothing to see here, folks. The only big Android announcement during the keynote is that Google will start selling a Galaxy S4 equipped with stock Android (4.2) via its Play store.

    At Google I/O 2012, Google introduced the world to Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean. It later updated Jelly Bean to version 4.2. Now at Google I/O 2013, it looks like Google will be updating Jelly Bean again to version 4.3.

    The Verge reports that a page on Google’s Android developer Web site referenced Android 4.3 before being removed. It was still available via cache for a while with a listing for security enhancements in the newest version of Android, but nobody was actually able to catch what those security enhancements were.

    Regardless, we still know next to nothing about Android 4.3. Knowing it exists is a start, but there’s not been much in the way of leaks in regards to new features. Some are suggesting that the latest update will just be a minimal update with support for Bluetooth Low Energy and better OpenGL for Embedded Systems 3.0. The latter jibes with other rumors suggesting that Google will announce some new gaming initiatives for Android at the conference.

    It’s important to note that Android 4.3 will most likely still be called Jelly Bean. Android boss Pundar Sichai already said that Google wouldn’t be showing off a new version of Android so a small update to Jelly Bean is the only thing that makes sense. Those looking for Key Lime Pie (or Kandy Kane) will have to keep waiting.

  • Google Fiber Android App Now Supports All Android 4.2 Devices

    One of the coolest things about Google Fiber is that the company throws in a free Nexus 7 tablet for those who subscribe to Google Fiber’s Internet and TV package. The tablet acts as a controller of sorts for the set top box allowing users to control all aspects of their television experience. Now the experience is moving to other Android devices.

    Google announced that the Google Fiber app for Android is now available on all devices sporting Android 4.2 or higher. That means that all of Google’s Nexus devices and the Asus Transformer Pad will now be supported. Of course, you may have installed a custom Android 4.2 ROM on your device, and that’s fine too.

    Oh, and before you ask, Google Fiber still isn’t expanding beyond Kansas City just yet. You can install the app though, and pretend that you live in Kansas City. That’s what the reviewers of the app are doing. Although, I’m pretty sure Google won’t be expediting the move of Fiber to other areas just because somebody from Michigan gave the app a five star review.

    You can grab the new Google Fiber app here. Install it on your Nexus device and dream of a day when you’re not being scammed by incumbent ISPs.

    [h/t: Engadget]

  • Jelly Bean Continues To Grow, Gingerbread And ICS Hit With Small Declines

    Back in January, we finally saw Gingerbread fall below 50 percent in Google’s Android distribution numbers for December. At the same time, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean both saw increases. Now only one Android version is seeing continued growth.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers, Jelly Bean has grown 3.4 percent to a total of 13.6 percent of the entire Android market. The increase can be attributed to any number of things including the Galaxy S III finally being upgraded to the latest version of Android. Sales of Google’s Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets likely contributed to the increase as well.

    Jelly Bean Continues To Grow, Gingerbread and ICS Decline

    What about the other versions? Surprisingly, Ice Cream Sandwich is down, but only by .1 percent. Android 4.0 ended January with 29 percent of the market compared to its 29.1 percent from last month. This is probably an anomaly as ICS will most likely continue to grow as those with cheap Gingerbread handsets will upgrade to now cheap ICS handsets throughout the year.

    Speaking of Gingerbread, the Android OS that won’t die is still falling slowly as it only lost a few percentage points over the month. Android 2.3 now holds 45.6 of the Android market. It will only continue to decline as more users upgrade to devices with Android 4.0 or 4.1/4.2.

    It will be interesting to see how the Android market continues to evolve over the course of the year. I have a gut feeling that Gingerbread’s days are numbered, and that its overall distribution will see a huge decline sometime in the middle of the year. Google’s expected rollout of Key Lime Pie (or Kandy Kane) may also have an impact on overall distribution numbers later this year.

  • LG Rubs In The Fact That You Can’t Buy A Nexus 4 With Jealousy Inducing Video

    The Nexus 4 has been sold out for quite a while now. The best thing to do is try to ignore the allure of Google’s latest smartphone. Google isn’t making it easy though as the company recently posted a video showing off Jelly Bean’s impressive Photo Sphere feature. LG is far crueler, however, as it’s showing off just how awesome the Nexus 4 in its entirety is.

    Everything on display can be found in the newest version of Jelly Bean, but the OS is only available on Nexus devices at the moment. Sure, you could download a custom ROM, but LG really sells the Nexus 4 here. It just makes you want to buy one, but alas, you can not as the device is still sold out.

    In fact, the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are all sold out. These are the only devices, aside from the widely available Galaxy Nexus, that officially support Android 4.2 at the moment. It’s almost like Google is telling you to root your Galaxy S III and install an Android 4.2 custom ROM. Most carriers are now just getting to Android 4.1 so it will undoubtedly be a while until carriers upgrade everyone to the newest flavor of Jelly Bean.

    Until LG fixes its hardware distribution, you can pick up Nexus 4 smartphones at inflated prices on eBay. The gadget scalpers are in full force offering Nexus 4 devices for the low price of $550 when the MSRP is only $300. At that price, you’re better off just buying a Galaxy S III and installing a custom Jelly Bean ROM.

  • See Jelly Bean’s Photo Sphere Feature In Action

    One of the coolest features found in Android 4.2 is Photo Sphere. The software lets users take multiple pictures and combine them into an IMAX-like image. It’s one thing to hear about a feature, however, and an entirely different thing to actually see it in action. The holidays provide a perfect excuse to do the latter.

    To perhaps compel you into buying a Nexus 4, Google has posted a video today showing just how good the photo sphere feature is. So how does one show off a panoramic photo feature? Beautiful vistas? A city’s skyline? Too easy. Google instead chose the Cheris family, a unit that consists of over 20 members all strewn throughout a two-story house.

    After seeing that, you might want to rush out and buy a Nexus 4 before your own massive family gathering. I’m sure Google and LG would appreciate the sale, but both versions of the device are sold out on the Google Play store. In fact, the only Nexus device available on Google Play is the 32 GB Nexus 7, and even that is backordered.

    Unfortunately, Android 4.2 is only officially available on Nexus devices at the moment. Other smartphone users, especially those who have a Galaxy S III, can easily install a custom Android 4.2 ROM, but the less technologically capable among us will have to settle for taking multiple pictures of every family member this holiday season.

  • Gmail For Android Gets Much Needed Improvements, Exclusive To Android 4.0 And Above

    Gmail comes standard with almost every Android device, but it hasn’t seen much improvement for quite a while now. That all changes today with its latest update for Android 4.0-4.2 devices.

    The Gmail team announced a number of improvements today via its Google+ profile. There’s a number of features that have been a long time coming, and in fact, were leaked in an APK back in October. The same features we saw then are now available in the official release on Google Play.

    Gmail

    Gmail1 hour ago

    Easy resizing, swipe to archive and more added to Gmail on Android

    Today we released version 4.2.1 of the Gmail app for Android, making it easier to both view and read your messages.

    No longer will your favorite email newsletters get cut off at the edges; with this latest version, you can now choose to have the emails resized to fit neatly on your screen and pinch to zoom for a closer look.  You can turn on auto-fit under Settings > General Settings.

    When you are checking mail on the go, sometimes you just want to get through your inbox quickly. With that in mind, we’ve added a swipe feature that allows you to do just that. Swipe left or right to archive, directly from your inbox. Just visit Settings > General settings > Swiping conversation list if you prefer to delete from the inbox.

    In addition, all of your great photos – from pics of your dad’s epic renovation project to candids of your dog napping – are easier to view at a glance. When you open a message with photo attachments, you’ll see thumbnails of each picture. Tap on a picture to go to a gallery where you can easily swipe through all the photos. And speaking of attachments, you can now attach videos that you've taken on your phone.

    These new features are all part of the latest update to Gmail, and are available for devices running Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, and above.  Download it today from Google Play: http://goo.gl/7lBNS360    38 Powered by socialditto

    Are you still in the majority of Android users who are stuck with Android 2.2 or 2.3? Fret not, Google has updated Gmail for you as well. Well, not really for you, but third-party developers now have access to a Labels API when building mail apps. There’s some performance improvements as well. It’s a nice complimentary prize until you can upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich and get the real Gmail for Android experience.

  • Google Is Fixing The December Bug In Android 4.2

    The latest mobile OS from Google – Android 4.2 – has been found to contain a few bugs that ruin the experience for some Nexus device users. The bugs seem to be specifically affecting those on the Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus. One bug in particular deleted December from the People app, but Google is already on it.

    Google acknowledged the bug yesterday on the Android Google+ page, and said that the Android team was already busy on a fix. The team also clarified that the bug only affects the people app, and that December is still available on the calendar app.

    Android

    Android1 day ago

    We discovered a bug in the Android 4.2 update, which makes it impossible to enter December events in optional fields of the People app (this bug did not affect Calendar). Rest assured, this will be fixed soon so that those of you with December birthdays and anniversaries won't be forgotten by your friends and family. 2784    500 Powered by socialditto

    Google is fixing the most visible bug in Android 4.2, but users are hoping that Googles gets a few more fixes in before the end of the year. As we reported yesterday, some users are experiencing everything from random crashes to batteries that drain faster than usual.

    It should be noted that commenters in yesterday’s story let us know that their devices running Android 4.2 aren’t actually giving them any problems. The issues don’t seem to be widespread just yet, but the fact that they’re affecting more than just a few users is a problem.

    [h/t: Droid Life]

  • Android 4.2 Deletes December, Other Bugs Reported

    Android 4.2 is the latest release of Google’s mobile OS, but the company is still calling it Jelly Bean. It’s not widely available just yet as people are still upgrading to the previous incarnation of Jelly Bean – Android 4.1. That’s a good thing too as you may want to hold off on upgrading to 4.2 until Google fixes the numerous problems plaguing the OS.

    PC Magazine reports that the entire month of December is gone from the People app in Android 4.2. It’s not a “huge” problem unless you have a friend whose birthday is in December. At that point, you may want to bust out an old fashioned paper calendar and jot it down until Google fixes the issue.

    The missing December may be getting the most media play, but 4.2 is proving that it could have used a bit more work before Google released it. Android Police has a great breakdown of all the bugs and issues currently affecting Android 4.2.

    First up, there’s an auto-brightness bug in Google’s Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 devices after upgrading to 4.2. The bug makes it so that the screen brightness randomly readjusts itself when set to auto-brightness. The only solution is to manually set the brightness until Google can issue a fix.

    Unfortunately, the rest of the bugs aren’t as “harmless” as randomly readjusting brightness levels. At last that can be addressed with other options, but Android 4.2 has some critical bugs that Google needs to take care of ASAP.

    For instance, Android Police reports that Bluetooth is broken after the Android 4.2 update on the Nexus 10, Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus. Audio streaming via Bluetooth “works,” but it’s reportedly choppy and leads to a subpar experience. Even worse, apps that connect the device to Bluetooth enabled devices like game controllers don’t even work.

    The same three devices are also randomly rebooting and experiencing major instability problems in Android 4.2. There are reports that the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are experiencing the worst of it with the entire system locking up and rebooting in the middle of some inane task like opening a Web page in Chrome or watching a video via YouTube. Google may want to address this issue first as consumers are unlikely to tolerate a randomly rebooting device.

    Finally, it seems that Android 4.2 has led to device batteries draining faster than usual. Even worse, it seems that batteries are also charging slower than usual. The culprit appears to be Google Play services as they eat into the battery more than anything else after the update.

    Google will need to get on these issues quickly before more people start buying Nexus devices for the holidays. The Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are both generating quite a lot of interest, and the devices could be Google’s ticket to becoming a major player this holiday season. These bugs, however, could lead to a lot of returns and unhappy customers that give up on Android. Google can’t afford for that to happen so here’s hoping the folks on the Android team are working on some fixes.

  • Google Releases New Android SDK Tools

    Google Releases New Android SDK Tools

    Google released the SDK for Android 4.2 yesterday, and developers are undoubtedly already digging into it. The Android team went over the main features of the SDK proper yesterday, but now it’s time to show off some of the new additions hitting the SDK Tools this time around.

    The Android team announced that they’re launching the Android SDK Tools, Revision 21 today alongside 4.2 SDK proper. Much like the new features in the SDK, the new Tools will surely help developers create some stellar Android apps.

    Every Android device is different, and as such, developers need to test their UIs across all of these devices. The new SDK Tools comes with a multi-config editor for that very reason. Developers can now prototype UIs across various orientations, screen sizes and locales. It also lets developers see how embedded layouts will look inside of larger layouts.

    Google Releases New Android SDK Tools

    Another addition to the UI tools in the latest release is the UI Automator Test Framework. As its name suggests, it allows developers to automate UI testing. It saves a lot of time that used to be wasted with manual UI testing. The UI Automator runs on Android 4.1 Developers will want to check out the UI Testing documentation here.

    Amateur developers will be pleased to find a number of new SDK Tools tailored towards them. For starters, there’s three new app templates for developers to easily add new screens to their app. The three new templates include a full-screen video/photo viewer, settings for basic user preferences, and a login screen.

    The other addition for beginner developers is a one-click SDK installer. To save time and cut down on headaches, developers can download all of the various SDK components with a single click. Existing developers can still manager SDK components separately as they always have.

    Google has also introduced a new AVD creation dialog. Now it’s easier than ever to to create virtual devices that match real Android device profiles. Google says that these new AVDs will also show up in the layout editor so that you know how the layouts will look on each device.

    Lastly, there are 25 new Lint rules that will help catch common sources of bugs in Android apps. For example, Google says that the new rules cover deviations from the Android design guide for icons, mismanaged wakelocks and more.

    For more information on the new SDK Tools, check out Google’s documentation.

  • Android 4.2 SDK Is Now Available

    We’ve all seen the great new features coming to Android 4.2 by now. The Photo Sphere camera is pretty amazing, and multiple accounts on tablets has been a long time coming. Those features, however, are just the beginning. The new Jelly Bean also has a number of new features that developers will be able to make great use of.

    Starting today, developers will be able to download the Android 4.2 SDK platform. It features a number of improvements and new features that developers are sure to do some amazing things with. Here’s the major improvements and features:

    Performance
    We’ve worked with our partners to run Renderscript computation directly in the GPU on the Nexus 10, a first for any mobile computation platform.

    New ways to engage users
    Users can now place interactive lock screen widgets directly on their device lock screens, for instant access to favorite apps and content. With just a small update, you can adapt any app widget to run on the lock screen. Daydream is an interactive screensaver mode that users can encounter when their devices are charging or docked in a desk dock. You can create interactive daydreams that users display in this mode, and they can include any type of content.

    New interaction and entertainment experiences
    Android 4.2 introduces platform support for external displays that goes beyond mirroring. Your apps can now target unique content to any number of displays attached to an Android device.

    Enhancements for international users
    To help you create better apps for users in languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian, Android 4.2 includes native RTL support, including layout mirroring. With native RTL support, you can deliver the same great app experience to all of your users with minimal extra work. Android 4.2 also includes a variety of font and character optimizations for Korean, Japanese, Indic, Thai, Arabic and Hebrew writing systems.

    At the moment, Google’s own Nexus line are the only devices that are equipped with Android 4.2. Most manufacturers and carriers are still trying to catch up to the first iteration of Jelly Bean – Android 4.1. With that being said, developers will most definitely want to start thinking up apps that can take advantage of the advanced GPU in the Nexus 10. That screen is just begging for some amazing audio-visual experiences.

    Veteran and novice developers alike can download the Android 4.2 SDK from the Android SDK Manager now. Before you get to that, however, you’ll want to check out the full list of Android 4.2 features and the API level 17 overview.

  • Here’s All The New Stuff In Android 4.2

    Here’s All The New Stuff In Android 4.2

    Google had to cancel its Android event in New York City due to Hurricane Sandy, but that didn’t stop the company from canceling its announcements. The Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 are now official members of the Google Nexus family. The new devices will be joined by a new version of the Android operating system.

    Google detailed all the new features coming to Android 4.2, the OS powering the Nexus 10 and Nexus 4, today. The Nexus 7 will also get the upgrade when it becomes available. It brings a number of new additions to Android including a feature that should have been there from the start.

    First up is the new photo sphere camera. It allows any camera to take wide panorama shots by stitching together multiple shots of the environment. It’s kind of hard to explain so here’s a video that shows off the new feature.

    The touchscreen keyboard gets an upgrade in Android 4.2 as well. Google calls it Gesture Typing, the feature has users gliding their fingers over the keys to type words while only lifting their fingers to create spaces. The keyboard will also predict your next word so you don’t have to even finish typing sentences.

    The best new feature in Android 4.2 is one that should have been there from the start. Tablets can now have multiple accounts with each person in the household being able to set up their own unique account that only they can access. Mobile devices are becoming more and more like personal computers and it’s about time they started acting like them. Having multiple accounts is a big step in that direction.

    Here's All The New Stuff In Android 4.2

    For those who have a wireless display adapter for their HDTV, Android 4.2 can now stream YouTube and HD video directly to the television. Since it shows whatever is on your phone or tablet’s screen, you can also take advantage of Daydream. It’s a screensaver of sorts that displays your photo albums or the latest news from Google Currents on your phone, tablet or wirelessly connected television.

    Another big addition in Android 4.2 is expandable, actionable notifications. Users can now directly take action on notifications without having to open the app. It’s a major improvement over past iterations of Android that helps increase productivity.

    Google Now received a sizable update that’s worthy of its own post. For more on that, check out our post on all the new cards coming to Google Now.

    Just like in Android 4.1, Android 4.2 improves upon the core framework that powers the OS. It’s not a major update, indicated by it keeping the Jelly Bean moniker, but it features a lot of improvements that are much appreciated.

    Android 4.2 will be first available on all the Nexus devices including the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet. It’s unknown if devices currently awaiting the upgrade to Android 4.1, like the Galaxy S III, will get Android 4.2 this year.

  • Google Announces Its New Line Of Nexus Devices

    Google Announces Its New Line Of Nexus Devices

    Google’s Android event set for this morning was canceled due to the vicious weather currently hitting New York City in the form of Hurricane Sandy. Some wondered if Google would also delay the expected announcements such as the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. Thankfully, Google knows that we can’t wait and decided to unveil the new devices via their blog.

    First up, Google confirmed the rumors that LG would be making the Nexus 4 smartphone. All the specs are also confirmed including the 4.7-inch display. The device will come equipped with Android 4.2, which is still called Jelly Bean. It features Gesture Typing, which Google says “lets you glide your finger over the letters you want to type on the keyboard.” The new Jelly Bean also adds support for Miracast wireless displays so you can watch movies, YouTube videos and other media on an HDTV without the use of cables.

    The Nexus 4 will be available in two flavors – 8GB and 16GB. The unlocked 8GB will set you back $299 while the unlocked 16GB will cost $349. T-Mobile will be offerring the 16GB Nexus 4 for $199 under contract. It will be available from the Google Play store on November 13.

    All of the rumors concerning the Nexus 10 have also been confirmed. The device sports a massive 2560×1600 resolution. They claim it has a powerful battery that offers up to nine hours of HD video playback. It also features two front-facing stereo speakers.

    Android 4.2 on the Nexus 10 will have the previously rumored sharing feature. It allows multiple accounts to be created on one tablet so every family member can custom tailor the device to their needs.

    The Nexus 10 will also be available on November 13 from the Google Play store. The 16GB version wil cost $399 while the 32GB will cost $499.

    As for the Nexus 7, Google confirmed the size increase. The 16GB Nexus 7 will cost $199 and the 32GB will cost $249. In even better news, Nexus 7 is also going mobile with HSPA+. The 32GB HSPA+ Nexus 7 will cost $299. Current owners of the Nexus 7 will be upgraded to Android 4.2 in the near future.

    Google Play is also getting a new feature in the form of music matching. Every Android device will now scan your personal music collection and match it against the music catalog on Google Play. All matches will be made immediately available for streaming from Google Play. The feature will be available in Europe on November 13 and in the US soon after.

    Here’s the first look at the new Nexus devices: