LG G Watch vs Samsung Gear Live: First battle of the Android Wear devices!

Google announced the first 2 smartwatches based on Android Wear at Google I/O this year: LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. In this article, I will first write all the advantages of one watch over the other, then their full specifications and finally, my verdict on which is the best Android Wear smartwatch available for now!

LG G Watch

• Bigger battery: 400 mAH vs 300 mAH.
• Cleaner design.

Samsung Gear Live

• Thinner: 8.9 mm vs 9.95 mm.
• Lighter: 59 gm vs 63 gm.
• SuperAMOLED Display: Saves battery on blacks and gives deeper contrasts.
• Heart Rate Monitor.
• Better Screen Resolution: 320 x 320 vs 280 x 280.
• Higher Pixel Density: 278 ppi vs 240 ppi.

Verdict

There are actually more similarities in both these watches than there are differences. The screen sizes are almost same (0.02 " difference), they both run Android Wear, support Bluetooth 4.0, have a 1.2 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of storage. The Samsung Gear Live obviously packs better specifications as seen above but there is an important thing I want to point out. In India, the Samsung Gear Live is 900 Rs (15 $) costlier than the G Watch while in USA, the G Watch is costlier by 30 $. I would go for the Gear Live because of the following points:

• 1 mm is a lot for thickness and it is also lighter, even though by 4 gm.
• 15 $ or 30 $ are not a concern when you are looking at 200 $+ devices.
• It sure has a smaller battery but the SuperAMOLED screen makes up for it.
• Heart Rate Monitor: It makes no sense to me to buy a wearable and not have it, unless it's Moto 360 :P

That's it guys for this comparison, I hope you liked it! If you did, check out my other articles listed on the right or you can find the ones you might be interested in by using the labels. Follow me or our official page on Google+ to be one of the first to know whenever we write more awesome content! :)

Google I/O 2014 Expectations

All Android fanboys will be eagerly watching the I/O this year, hoping for a new Android version, including me! There are a lots of leaks going on this year about Motorola devices and Android TV, a new Android version and lot's more, let's get started!

Android TV

This was probably the earliest leak for Google this year, by The Verge in April, showing us a new device called Android TV. The leaks showed a very beautiful UI and hopefully it gets announced at I/O and includes all the features of Chromecast. If somehow, Google manages to price this under 100$, I think it's going to get Apple TV, Roku etc. out of business!

New Motorola devices

+TK TECH NEWS is on a roll and constantly leaking new Motorola devices including the new Moto X+1 and possibly a new tablet similar to the Moto Xoom. You can watch the videos on his YouTube channel here. 

Android Wear and more

Though Android Wear was already announced earlier this year, Google I/O is the perfect venue to see a more finished product and maybe even some hardware. The original release dates for the LG G Watch and Moto 360 were targeted for this summer, so it makes good sense that they could show up here as well. Google often gives away a bunch of free devices to the attendees, so what better way to get developers programming for Android Wear than give several thousand of them free devices and then have them sit through hours of how-to talks?

There are also speculations that the Moto 360 will feature a wireless charger and will be announced this I/O.

Google Stars

Google seems to have accidentally posted their long-rumored Google Stars extension to the Chrome Web Store for just a few minutes, which was long enough for someone to grab it, upload it to the web, and allow the tech blogosphere to run rampant with it. It is easy to overstate what Google Stars is – it is basically a feature-rich bookmarks/favorites extension, unless there is much more to it that we have yet to see. We have so far just seen a version that is an available extension for the Chrome browser, which would also potentially limit its appeal.

Nonetheless, it appears to be a true added value to the normal bookmarking feature. It takes the tagging features that Firefox users are probably used to and packages them in a more appealing interface that should make adoption easier. Google has also made sharing a part of the extension, perhaps with a vision for making Stars a link-sharing platform that doesn’t have the same time sensitivity that Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter have.

New Android version (Technical stuff)

(Hopefully it's 5.0 :P) There were tons of leaks and some were teases from Google like on the I/O website and a screenshot with clock at 5:00. 

Leaks are leaks but here are some facts about changes that happened in Android in the last week:

• Removal of Dalvik from AOSP source code.
• Tentatively rename 64-bit API level to non-numeric: 'L'.

The build numbers usually start from the first letter of the version name. For e.g.: 4.4.4 is KTU84P, 4.3 is JWR66V. This means that it is almost 100% confirmed that the next version will start from "L".

Google knows that most of it's users have a habit of digging around the source code and find easter eggs so this is probably a tease by Google. After all, Google manages the internet :P

New Android version (Visual stuff)

Leaked Gmail interface

New contacts                      Old contacts

Project Hera and Quantum Paper are two leaked projects from Google that look forward to revamp the visuals of Android. The above contacts screenshot was provided by Google itself in a tweet for support while the gmail screenshot is a leak. As you can see in the new contacts screenshot, the Wifi icon looks a little different. Continuing this pattern, Google again teased new statusbar icons on the I/O site as shown below.

New icons teased in I/O and current icons

EDIT: Just after publishing this article, new leaks came from a Chromium Issue Tracker showcasing a new icon in the status bar which looks like Mr. Jingles but the more exciting thing for me was to see Chrome open in floating window! Google FTW if they implement floating window!! \m/

Most noticable things are the statusbar and the fact that Chrome is open in a window

 These screenshots are taken from a Nexus 4 so, if you are a Nexus 4 user, it's almost guaranteed that you will get 5.0!!

Nexus 9 (HTC Volantis)

First things first, this is likely the tablet we previously referred to as the Nexus 8 — everything lines up with rumors of that device (it’s made by HTC, and runs on an NVIDIA chip). Without further ado, let’s get right down to the specs of Volantis, the codename for the tablet.

The display is expected to have an 8.9-inch size with a resolution of 2048×1440, bringing the pixels-per-inch count to 281. This apparently has an aspect ratio of 4:3, but the resolution and ratio don’t line up here. It’s possible that the software navigation buttons are being included, which could possibly account for the difference.

The processor is a 64-bit NVIDIA Logan, which is better known as the Tegra K1. We do not yet know the clock speed of the K1 on this alleged Nexus 9. The rear-facing camera is an 8MP shooter with optical image stabilization, and it’s backed up by a 3MP front-firing unit. 2GB of RAM and a choice of 16 or 32GB of internal storage make up the rest of the leaked specs.

Let’s talk design for a second. The dimensions of the Nexus 9 are expected to be 8.91 inches by 5.98 inches by 0.31 inches. It’ll weigh 418g assuming you pick up the WiFi-only model, but the LTE-supporting equipment will tally to 427g. It also apparently has an “aluminum zero-gap construction with tapered-sides,” but the render shown in the alleged leaked Android Police source image doesn’t exactly line up with that (the image above is a render of the render to better show details), rather showing more of a cross between last year’s Nexus 7 and the Nexus 5. The stereo front-facing speakers are also absent from the render, but this is HTC we are talking about — it wouldn’t be surprising to us to see these design elements on a device from it.

Availability has also tentatively leaked. Assuming things don’t change before HTC and Google are ready to take the wraps off of the tablet, the WiFi-only model will likely cost $399. The 32GB model would add an extra $100 to do this, making the total price $499. LTE support adds even more, and Android Police speculates that this could push the price into the $600+ range. This is a wild departure from the Nexus 7 of yesteryear (and the year before), and quite frankly we’re displeased at this point — it is a Nexus, after all.

Nexus 9 is apparently the tentative launch name, but Android Police hasn’t confirmed that as the official launch name quite yet. Also, with all the turmoil going around in Nexus world, this may not even come to fruition — although we certainly hope it does.

This tablet will allegedly launch alongside the Android L-release in Q4 of 2014. Mark your calendars, folks, this will be big.

Home automation

There’s also the Android@Home group, focused on home automation. The initiative has pretty much been missing in action of late, though perhaps we might see some new announcements. Google’s brand-new Nest division just went out and acquired Dropcam, but don’t assume that means we’ll see movement here. It’s much too early for any deep integration and Nest still operates like an independent entity within Google, but it's clear that this space matters a great deal to Google and it's willing to put its money where its mouth is.

Those are a LOT OF LEAKS!! This is probably the longest article I have ever written. You can find out by reading all the other ones ;) Follow me on Google+ or +1 this article/blog if you liked it. Keep reading! :D

Nokia X2 Announced!

Exactly 4 months before today, Nokia announced their first Android phones, Nokia X and XL. Today, they have announced the successor, name Nokia X2.

The Nokia X2 is a proper evolutionary step from the original Nokia X. There are updates both on the inside and out, but most notably, the Nokia X2 packs a larger 4.3" ClearBlack display.



Its resolution, however, is still 800 x 480 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 217ppi. Under the hood of the X2, there's an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset with a 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex-A7 CPU and 1GB of RAM. A welcome new addition is the Home button located next to the Back button under the display.

The battery of the Nokia X2 has 1800mAh capacity (300mAh more than the Nokia X's) and is rated at 4 hours Internet browsing time on cellular network. Internal storage is 4GB paired with a microSD card slot for up to 32GB expansion.

With measures of 121.7 x 68.3 x 11.1mm and a weight of 150 grams the X2 is a bit chubbier than its predecessor. The Nokia X weighs 129 grams, so we're yet to see how the Nokia X2 will feel in the hand with the additional hole in its belt.



In terms of connectivity, there's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and dual SIM card slots offering dual stand-by. At the back, there's a 5MP autofocus camera with LED flash, which is teamed up with a front-facing camera for Skype calls.

Nokia has also updated its custom Android launcher, which boasts more useful multitasking, the option to see most used apps and updated Fastlane. The free HERE Maps subscription for voice-guided navigation is also present, while notification drawer now packs a refreshed shortcut menu.

Hopefully, Nokia will push a software update to the original X with the new features, but no official word on that has been shared yet.

The Nokia X2 retails for €99 (before taxes and subsidies) and is available now in glossy green, orange black, yellow and white. There are matte dark grey color later on.

Considering the pricing and specifications, so far, it looks like a very low end Android device and hopefully we will soon see a "flagship" from Nokia worthy of the name.



Links: Nokia, Forum

Anyways, that's it guys. If you liked this article, you can read others listed on the right hand side. Follow me or our Official page on Google+ using the widget given to be one of the first ones to know whenever we write a new article. If you're not on Google+, you can also subscribe to RSS or your email by the widget given. Keep reading! :D

Hidden Feature Found in AOSP; Called "Heads Up" and Tutorial to Install it!

Google have a history of implementing changes that custom ROM developers have invented and implemented into the AOSP. Nothing wrong with that. The AOSP is there for a reason. One of its purposes is for developers to try out new things and feed the changes they make upstream and back into AOSP. Google also keep an eye on the custom ROM community and their customization and if they see something they like, they will implement it with their own spin on it.

Heads Up is a new notification mode that was buried in the AOSP source code and should probably be implemented in the next major Android version! The Cyanogenmod team have already started giving that option to users in the nightlies and hopefully, it will come in the next Monthly build.

Heads Up allows for a floating notification to display on top of your current activity, with the full access (eg. Expand, Reply, Interact, etc) that you would expect from a standard notification. This allows for a quick and easy way to read incoming notifications while in otherwise full-screen applications (ie Games). Obviously, no one likes being nagged in the middle of their favorite Youtube video of cats – so, the Cyanogenmod team have introduced a ‘Do not disturb’ filter to this functionality. You can select which apps the new Heads Up functionality should not interrupt.

According to me, this feature looks very similar to Hover by +Paranoid Android. Ofcourse, because it is in the AOSP, it has less features as compared to Hover. For e.g.: Hover opens apps in floating mode when clicked directly. It also has a blacklist feature that allows Hover to ignore notifications for certain apps.

GravityBox is easily one of my favorite Xposed modules and the creator has already implemented Heads Up in the module! The GravityBox implementation allows for deciding which notifications will appear as Heads Up windows and which will be ignored, and users can expand notifications (if supported) with a two-finger swipe. Other nifty additions to the tool set include better options for the "quiet hours" function, an expanded battery tile in the quick settings menu, user-definable actions for plugging in or unplugging headphones, and a lot of bug fixes and language translations. Check out the update post for a full list.

In order to run GravityBox, you'll need a rooted Android device running 4.1 or higher, and preferably a Nexus/Google Play Edition one, since it's designed for AOSP hardware and ROMs. Then you'll need to install and configure the popular Xposed Framework. Finally, grab GravityBox from its home on the original XDA thread. As always when tinkering with root-enabled software, it's probably a good idea to make a backup before you go digging into the various settings. NOTE: For UNC, you need to donate to GravityBox.

EDIT: There is another module on Xposed framework exclusively for Heads up. Get it here!

So guys, that's all about Head Up! Let me know any suggestions in the comments section below. If you liked this article, you can read similar ones by using the labels on the right hand side. Follow me on Google+ to be one of the first people to know when we post more awesome content! Keep reading! :D

Android week! 4.4.4, Amazon fire phone and customization goodness!

This week was very exciting for Android enthusiasts like me with the announcement of 4.4.4,  3 new launchers, Google's announcement of the death of Dalvik (long live dalvik) and a new theme by +Arz Bhatia !

Kitkat 4.4.4

Google is certainly on a roll with just a week of gap in between 4.4.3 and 4.4.4. I think it's just time for 4.5 / 5.0! ;) There are no major changes in this new build but Sprint says it includes security fixes. Custom ROMs like +CyanogenMod and +Paranoid Android are already testing 4.4.4 and will be included in their next build(s).

Dalvik is dead, long live Dalvik!

Ever since we first saw ART appear alongside the release of Android 4.4 Kitkat, we all knew that it would eventually replace the aging and relatively inefficient Dalvik runtime compiler. Well folks, the time is now upon us, as commits made late last night to the AOSP master branch show Dalvik getting the axe and ART being set as the default.

Amazon fire phone announced

Amazon on Wednesday officially introduced its own smartphone, as expected, and it offers several unique features that may help it stand out in the crowded smartphone market. The device is called the Fire Phone and it sports a 4.7-inch IPS LCD HD display with Gorilla Glass 3 for extra strength, a rubber frame, aluminum buttons and injection-molded steel connectors that Amazon says “ensures a tight and precise fit,” which the device is charging.

 Under the hood, the Fire Phone is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core processor with Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM. It also has a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, a feature that has helped phones like the original HTC One, the Nexus 5 and LG G3 capture amazing images. Also, another feature we love, the device has a dedicated camera button and will offer unlimited photo storage on Amazon Cloud Drive.

The phone is heading to AT&T with 32GB of storage for $199.99 with a new two-year contract, or for $299.99 with a new two-year contract with 64GB of storage. Pre-orders begin now and the device launches July 25.

The top 5 features of this phone include:

• 4 front cameras which provide a "Dynamic Perspective Display"
• 13 MP camera with OIS
• Firefly: A software which enables you to point your camera at anything and get information about it
• Mayday: Video chat with a tech support representative 24x7 and connect within 15 seconds
• 1 year of Amazon Prime free worth 99$

OEM launcher goodness

If you are not familiar with the awesomeness of Android launchers, I recommend you read this article, which I wrote a long time ago, first!

Nokia announced Launcher Z for Android which has pretty good reviews so far. Z launcher is currently in limited pre-beta release, and anyone can sign up through Google+. As of now, the download is available for Android users running 4.1 and up, and has been specifically optimized to work with the Galaxy S5, S4, S3 and Nexus 5.

Nokia’s not the only player in town with Android launcher news today, and while its new Z Launcher may be grabbing all the headlines, we’ve also just picked up on word of another new launcher, nearly ready to head out. And like Nokia, with its Symbian roots and move to Windows Phone, we’re looking at a release from another company more traditionally associated with a platform other than Android: Jolla. While work on Sailfish OS continues, Jolla’s releasing what it calls its Jolla Launcher in an effort to give Android users a preview of how Sailfish looks and feels.

Alpha testing of the Jolla Launcher begins next week, with signups open now. In general, phones running Android 4.3 or better will be supported, but Jolla’s primary focus is on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5. Users interested in bring part of this test group can find registration instructions through the source link; just please be ready and willing to provide Jolla feedback on your experience with the launcher – this is an alpha test, after all.

Terrain is a Samsung funded launcher that is gesture based and aims at simplifying user experience. It's fast, it's light, and it's driven by intuitive gestures that makes the best of your touchscreen's swiping ability.

KEY FEATURES:
* A Bird's Eye View with Smart Sidebar — curate all your favorite content (apps, tools, contacts, news, social) to view at a glance or dive in for a deeper look. The sidebar is easy to personalize; just pick the content you want from our free cards library and arrange your cards however you like.
* Find Things Fast with Local Phone Search — quickly find any contact or app on your phone with just a swipe
* Stay Organized with Apps Drawer — we’ve cleaned up the Apps screen so it’s easier to find the app you’re looking for
* Navigate Quickly with Swipe Gestures — swipe right for Sidebar, up for Search, and left for Apps
* No Battery Impact — unlike other smart launchers, Terrain is optimized for efficiency and will not kill your battery
* Change Homescreen Icon Grid Size — adjust how many icons can fit on your homescreen
* 100% Android -- everything you love about Android (widgets, homescreens, adjustable grid size)

Links: Launcher Z, Jolla(alpha) and Terrain.

Theming awesomeness for power Android users!

People who are into custom ROMs and theming their phone probably know Arz Bhatia and his awesome new Fi theme. Yesterday, he launched his new theme called Nue. It is neon green/black color based and you can get it here. Ofcourse, it requires a rooted device along with a custom ROM like PA or CM that supports theming. 

That's all for today's Android goodness! I hoped you liked this article and if you did, please check out our other articles listed on the right hand side and you can use the labels to find articles that might interest you! You can also follow me on Google+, using the widget, so that you will be one of the first people to know when I write a new article! Keep being awesome! :D

Tech roundup: Android 4.4.3, iOS 8, Mac OS X and more!

Today was a very busy day! First of, this is a new style of writing I am trying and I don't think this will be done frequently. That said, you can tell me about anything you want to know on Google+ or in the articles and I will try my best to explain in an article!

Android 4.4.3!

Google didn't quite announce the 4.4.3 update but instead, they started rolling out OTA updates to Nexus devices which you can download here, unlike some companies who tend to announce their NEW and INNOVATIVE OS months before the actual release and give their customers buggy betas ;)

The update squashes a few bugs in 4.4.2 related to the CPU usage and the Nexus 5 camera along with a newer Phone app with Card UI for Speed Dial. Further, Google is said to bring few more fixes with its new Android 4.4.3 update which include fixes for data connection loss, random reboots, missed calls and various camera bugs.

iOS 8.0 and Mac OS X 10.10 "Yosemite" :

Before starting, please excuse me for a moment for being satirical. I think Apple just waits for Android features to be a success and then implements it in iOS, giving the feature it's own UI touch and then talks to the world as if they invented it and nobody else has done it before. As an example, Tim was saying in the Keynote how Android is behind time and a few moments later, he started explaining the "new" features in iOS 8 that have been in Android since GB or ICS days. Also, does EVERY new Apple product has to be the "biggest change to the iOS/iPhone/iPad yet"? In fact, there is an whole article showing how most of the new features in iOS are already on Android. You can read it here.

iOS 8 allows all your iOS devices to sync photos. The messages app allows you to send audio and video, shortcuts in notifications and recent apps, a new keyboard that has swype typing and some more things. You can read about them all in detail over here.

Mac OS X 10.10 has a few visual changes regarding translucent bars and connectivity with iOS. Apple users can now accept calls and read/respond to text messages on their iPad or OS X machine.

As every year, Apple has announced betas for both the OSs and will be finally rolling out in September.

New Chromecast capabilites:

Google announced today that the subscribers of ESPN on their TV and having the WatchESPN app on the Android phone will now be able to cast ESPN videos onto their Chromecast.

Starting today, you can now also cast photos and videos from your Google+ page using the Photos app on your Android device, iPhone and iPad or on the computer by clicking on the "Cast" button while on Google+.

Moto Stream announced:

The Moto Stream is Motorola's attempt to fix the Nexus Q. If you don't know what the Nexus Q is, I don't blame you :P

The Moto Stream is a icosahedron shaped device which is aimed to make ANY speaker bluetooth enabled. It's as simple as that. It has Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities with upto 300 feet of connectivity. It is NFC enabled so you can just tap your phone/tablet and connect.

A maximum of 5 Bluetooth devices can be connected at one time and there is a queuing facility available. The Moto Stream is available for 50$ from today on the Motorola website and in RadioShack from 6th June.

That's all for today's tech round up! If you liked this article, please +1 and follow us on Google+, the link is on the right side. And also, all our other articles are listed on the right side. Keep reading! :D

Why Android and Windows Phone Devices DO Need More RAM!

I'm pretty sure this conversation will be familiar to most of you.
You: "My new XYZ phone/tablet has 2 gigs of RAM. How much does your iPhone/iPad have?"
Random friend: "What are you going to do with 2 gigs of RAM on your mobile device?"
And then, no matter how much you try to explain them, they just sit there, understanding nothing, like typical Apple users.

Well, now you have an answer.

Most of the Android and Windows Phone devices come with 1080p (1920x1080) displays and 2 GB RAM nowadays. But, some phones like Vivo Xplay 3S, LG G3 and Oppo Find 7 come with 2K (2560x1440) displays. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to make this deduction that all phones with 2K displays come with 3 GB RAM. Do you see where I'm going with this?

More pixels means more RAM required by the GPU. The Nexus 10 was announced in 2012 and was pretty much the first mobile device to feature a resolution of 2560x1440. I remember being disappointed that the Google event was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy but just watching the specs of the Nexus 10 more than made up for it! It boasted of a Cortex-A15 dual core processor, 2 GB RAM and a 2K display. Those specs rock even today!

When I first booted my Nexus 10, I was surprised that it showed a total of only 1.5 GB RAM. After the 4.2.2 OTA update, it went down to 1.1 GB! I was mad. But, then I read somewhere on XDA that the GPU requires DEDICATED 900 MB of RAM for the enormous resolution.

The iPhone 5S has a resolution of 1136x640 and 1 GB DDR2 RAM. Less pixels on iPhone means less RAM required. It also has a little to do with the manufacturer bloat of Android devices but I am considering only stock Android/Google Play Edition devices here.

And this is the exact same reason why the Moto G and Moto E can run smoothly with 1 GB RAM. I hope now you understand why Android phones need more RAM and can shut your iCrap friends as well! :P

That's it guys. I hope you liked this short article. You can read our other write-ups which are listed on the right hand side. Please follow us on Google+ from the right side of this blog to be one of the first ones to know whenever we write a new article!

Have we reached tech saturation or are we expecting too much?

Everytime, the same thing happens. A manufacturer announces it's newest flagship and the tech world goes gaga for that particular device, until, it is slowly forgotten and thrown into the tech oblivion.

HTC announced it's new flaship, the HTC One M8 in March and to be honest, I was yawning during the keynote. I mean, if I can get the old HTC One for even 3/4th the price of the new one, I would not think for even one second. I think that HTC hyped the phone too much on YouTube and Twitter and raised people's expectations far from what the M8 could actually deliver. You can read my overview of the HTC One M8 here.

HTC's newest flagship. the One M8, compared to it's predecessor

The case is similar even with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and many more flagships of leading manufacturers who seem to just refine their last year's phone with a newer processor, a higher quality camera and in a little bigger chassis.

Samsung Galaxy S5 and S4

Don't get me wrong, I think they are all great phones but as compared to one year old models, they are only a fraction better. According to me, Nexus 6(?) > Sony Xperia Z2 > Oppo Find 7 > Samsung Galaxy S5  > Oneplus One > HTC M8 >>> iPhone 6(:P).

The beauties of the Android world: Sony Xperia Z1 and Z2

These facts make us wonder whether we have reached saturation or our limit of innovation. The fact is that, as we are going forward in time the changes in phones become more and more subtle. You could easily tell between a Samsung Galaxy S3 and a S4 but the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 look almost identical. Also, I think that the fact that the HTC One M8 and the Samsung Galaxy S5 have lesser pixel density than last year's models support my point.

The purpoted flagship-killer of the newly found Chinese manufacturer, Oneplus

So... What does this conclude? We do have great new and innovative technology like Phoneblocks, Moto 360, Google Glass and many more devices. But, the problem is that we really have achieved too much in the recent years and that's why we don't get surprised by anything nowadays. The HTC One M8 and the Oneplus One are the perfect examples for hyping a device out of it's abilities. No doubt that they are both beatiful phones but they just couldn't live up to the hype. But we can still count on Google and the next Nexus manufacturer that we will again be awed by the it's brilliance. A few months ago, I told my co-writer, +Jay Shah, that the perfect phone for me would be built by HTC, have the software of Google and hand-picked features from Samsung and Motorola!

With all this, there is one thing we know that Android power users like me can always count on ROM makers like +CyanogenMod  and +Paranoid Android that they will come up with something awesome!

Other articles:
Oneplus One overview here
Samsung Galaxy S5 overview here
Oppo Find 7 articles here and here
Oppo Find 7 vs Sony Xperia Z2 here
HTC One M8 overview here

All our other articles are listed at the right hand side. Add us to your Google+ circles to be one of the first to know whenever we write new articles!
google.com/+ultrafiniteblogspot

CyanogenMod 11.0 M6 Changelog

The Cyanogenmod team have made sure to release a comparatively stable build every month for the users who don't like much to live at the edge of a cliff. They have announced the CM 11 M6 build on Star Wars day! In a blog post, the Cyanogenmod team has announced that there will be no more "Stable" or "RC" builds that we are used to see whenever the next version of Android is announced.

Nevertheless, the team has ensure that the monthly "stable" builds will still be continued with and they will try to change the cycle to every 2 weeks. You can even fool someone that a 'M' build is a stock firmware! Anyways, here is the changelog to the M6 build:

• Quiet Hours – Fix longpress QS tile option
• Voice+ – Integrate into settings (under Wireless and Networks > ‘More’)
• Blacklist – Add provider permissions
• Lockscreen – Fix custom wallpaper crashes and album art issues
• Display – Consolidate screen-off animation options (remove checkbox)
• Bluetooth – Upstream updates and fix issues with audio routing to select car makes/models and disconnect issues
• MultiSim – Additional support patches (15+) and UI/UX modifications
• Lockscreen – Disable elements when in custom lockscreen
• Quick Settings – Options to show smaller tiles; add BT device name to tile
• Quick Settings – Fix QS tiles layout in landscape mode
• Usage Stats – Fix screen on stats after boot
• Resolve memory leaks in Frameworks
• Settings – Show ‘eject card’ action for USB storage
• Theme Engine – Introduce new Engine capabilities (chooser to arrive in nightlies this week) (New UI)
• Parallel Shutdown – Decrease shutdown time
• Address security vulnerability for icons
• Downloads – Add pause/resume support
• Trebuchet – Hidden apps and labels support
• Remove parallel boot dexopt from stable/cm-11.0 branch
• And more (all changes from Mar 29th to April 30th)

New logo announced for Cyanogen Inc.

Also, the Paranoid Android team is also on a roll with the announcement of Hover, a notification delivery system with a first of a kind UI. Let me know in the comments section if you want me to write an article on Hover if you would like to learn more about it!

Read the original full article here.

So, that's it guys, hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read our other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

LG G Watch Based on Android Wear Unveiled

To know more about Android Wear and Moto 360, read this article.

We were all expecting LG to be partnering with Google for it's smartwatch and it's now official! The LG G Watch is a smartwatch based on Google latest Android SDK, Android Wear.

Looks wise, it's nowhere in comparison with the Moto 360 in my opinion, which is also based on the same software. The watch looks very basic and looks like only the essentials are included.

This is LG’s fourth device developed in close collaboration with Google following the Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and the LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition.

The LG G Watch powered by Android Wear will present a low barrier to entry for developers and offer the best Google experience for users. 

LG engineers worked closely with Google from the initial stages of development to ensure that the LG G Watch worked perfectly with Android Wear.

The Android Wear software based on Google Now

Google officially launched the LG G Watch at Google I/O 2014 and will start shipping from June 7 in India. It is available for 15000 Rs (~250 $) in the Indian Play Store here and for 230 $ in the US Play Store which will also start shipping from July 7. 

Technical specifications
OS: Android Wear
Screen: 1.65” 280 x 280 IPS LCD
Dimensions: 37.9 x 46.5 x 9.95 mm
Weight: 63 g
Battery: 400 mAh
Processor: 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
Memory: 4 GB internal storage with 512 MB RAM
Ports and Connectors: USB (pogo pin) on G Watch, Micro USB on Charging Cradle
Sensors: 9 Axis (Accelerometer/Compass/Gyro)

There's not really anything more to say. So, I guess that's it guys! Hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read our other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

Android Wear and Moto 360 Announced

Google had previously stated that they would soon be adding wearable tech support for Android as a result of the wave of new wearable devices. Well, today, Google announced Android Wear, a platform specifically designed for wearable devices and to me, it looks like a winner.

So, the Android Wear platform is basically Google Now that runs on your wrist and delivers notifications. They have also previewed a video showing what could potentially be made using this technology.

Smartwatches based on Android Wear are compatible with any Android device running 4.3 or above but this is not tested and confirmed yet. I was hoping Google made it compatible for all devices 4.0 and above because so many devices are stuck on ICS or 4.1

Moto 360

In other but related news, Motorola have announced a new beautiful smartwatch that runs on the Android Wear platform and they too have created a video explaining the watch. 

Motorola have emphasized in the video that how previous wearable tech on the wrist had a rectangular display as standard but they want to change this. 

The Moto 360 is the best looking smartwatch till date according to me and it is very similar to a Triwa smartwatch concept showcased earlier, which you can see here.
Motorola blog post here.
moto360.motorola.com

Moto 360 video here.

Edit: The LG G Watch is the official partner of Google and it is officially announced. Read about it here.

So that's it guys, hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read my other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

Nokia announces it's first Android smartphones

Nokia announced 3 new Android smartphones which is a first for Nokia and a surprise after it's takeover by Microsoft despite all of the leaks. The 3 new smartphones are named Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL. All of the 3 phones are based on the AOSP and Nokia's skin called Touch UI. Another shocker by Nokia is that the Google Play Store is not included but you can sideload apks just as any normal Android device so I guess you could also sideload the Play Store and enjoy!

Specs of Nokia X:

Height: 115.5 mm
Width: 63 mm
Thickness: 10.4 mm
Weight: 128.7 g
Display size: 4 ''
Display features: Brightness control, Tactile feedback, Orientation sensor, Nokia Glance screen, Wide viewing angle, Screen double tap
Main camera sensor: 3 MP
Camera resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Main camera focus type: Fixed focus
Maximum standby time with dual SIM: 17 days
Maximum talk time (2G): 13.3 h
Processor name: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4
Maximum talk time (3G): 10.5 h
RAM: 512 MB
Maximum music playback time: 26 h
Full Specs

The Nokia X has no front camera and the 3 MP camera is just bad. I am personally not at all impressed by the Nokia X. Now let's see what the other 2 have in store for us!

The Nokia X+ has the exact specifications as the Nokia X but it includes an expandable storage option and 768 MB of RAM instead of 512 MB. I don't even know why Nokia cared to make a new phone just for two features...

Specs of Nokia XL:
Height: 141.4 mm
Width: 77.7 mm
Thickness: 10.9 mm
Weight: 190 g
Display size: 12.7 cm
Display features: Brightness control, Tactile feedback, Orientation sensor, Nokia Glance screen, Wide viewing angle, Screen double tap
Main camera sensor: 5 MP
Camera resolution: 2592 x 1944 pixels
Main camera focus type: Auto focus
Maximum standby time with dual SIM: 30 days
Maximum talk time (2G): 16 h
Processor name: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4
RAM: 768 MB
Maximum talk time (3G): 13 h
Maximum music playback time: 37 h
Full Specs

The only significant changes in the Nokia XL from the Nokia X+ in my opinion are the front facing camera and the 5" screen which I assume would be terrible as a result of its pitiable 187 ppi resolution. 

Misc points:

• All the 3 phones are available in 6 color options: Green, Black, White, Blue, Yellow, Orange.

• The Touch UI is based on 4.1.2 Jellybean

• The Nokia XL has an LED flash while Nokia X and Nokia X+ don't.

• The new Touch UI looks just like a modified Windows Phone Tile view and that is not at all appealing to me. Although, it is just about time when people start rooting these and install custom ROMs.

• It includes Fastlane from the Asha line of phones.

Video showing Touch UI:

Verdict:
I would rate the new Nokia X phones 2.5/5 and would not recommend anyone to buy these. If you want to buy a budget Android phone, go for the Moto G NOW!
P.S: The Samsung Galaxy S5 is launching in 2 hours and i will be blogging so come again!

So that's it guys, hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read my other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

CM11 M2 changelog

Android power users like me are always happy to see updates or new ROMs. Cyanogenmod is one of the best Android after-market ROMs available. Today, the CM11 M2 was release which is a monthly build or in between nightlies and release candidates. Nightlies are highly experimental with new features and release candidates are stable with very few bugs intended to use as daily drivers. Monthly builds also have comparatively much less bugs but may have less features. I have personally been using the CM11 M1 since December 6, 2013.

The Cyanogenmod team did not release a changelog with this new release so I decided to do it. Please note that these are only noticeable changes, after using for ~1 hour on my Nexus 10 and these may vary from device to device. I will keep adding changes when I notice them. Anyways, here is the changelog:

1) Settings has Tablet UI

2) Feels smoother

3) Settings has new Profiles section

4) New battery styles: battery portrait and landscape. Circle with % is removed.

5) Transparent Status bar and navigation bar in launcher and lock screen

6) Navigation bar quick launch shortcuts are smaller

So that's it guys, hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read my other articles which are listed on the left and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

Moto G vs Nexus 4!

If you have been following this blog, you would probably have read my impressions of the Moto G. If you haven't I highly recommend you read that article here before reading this one.

With the holidays and Christmas coming up, get ready to get confused on which gifts to give but under a budget of about 200$. Stop worrying! Today, I bring you two "budget" phones but they won't feel like budget phones in the hand: Moto G and Nexus 4. Yes, the Nexus 4, last year's Google flagship phone is this year's budget phone.

I will compare these two products which are essentially Google's as Motorola is now owned by Google. This comparison will follow a similar pattern to my iPad Mini vs Nexus 7(2013) article. 

Size: 

As you can see from the picture, the Moto G is much smaller than the Nexus 4 and fits comfortably in hand. This doesn't meant that the Nexus 4 is hefty, but if you have small hands or come from an iPhone, I would recommend the Moto G due to its size if specifications don't matter to you.

Weight:

The weight of both the phones is pretty much neck-and-neck so it doesn't even matter because you cannot fell a difference of 4 grams in your hands.

Build and feel in hand:

It is quite obvious that the Nexus 4 is "prettier" than the Moto G. The Moto G doesn't have the rugged back of the Moto X but it sports the same dimple below the camera which seems to be Motorola's signature now.

Display:

The Nexus 4 offers a screen bigger by 0.2" but the Moto G's pixel density is higher. It all depends on what you want: sharpness or size.

Software:

Moto G just received the kitkat update and this means that none of the phone come with 4.4 out of the box but they have an OTA ready.

Storage:

Both the phones come in an option of either 8 or 16 GB of internal memory with no SD Card slot for expandable memory.

Connectivity:

Both the devices come with Wi-fi b/g/n support but the Nexus 4 also supports dual band Wi-fi. LTE is not officially supported on any of the devices but there is a hack for the Nexus 4 to enable LTE. Bluetooth 4.0 is present on both but only the Moto G supports Bluetooth LE(Low Energy).

Battery:

Despite the similar battery capacities — 2070mAh for the Moto G, 2100mAh for the Nexus 4 — there’s a night-and-day difference in longevity between the two devices. I never had any trouble getting a full day — and then some, more often than not — out of the Moto G, but the Nexus 4 has never wowed me with its battery life. Much of the difference in longevity is likely down to the CPUs being used in the phones. The Nexus 4’s Snapdragon S4 Pro is powerful, but power-hungry, while the Moto G’s Cortex A7 cores don’t perform as well in demanding apps, but are supremely efficient.

Processor:

On paper, the Snapdragon S4 pro used in the Nexus 4 is better but in day-to-day life or even in heavy games, you will only be able to notice a minor difference in performance.

RAM:

The Nexus 4's 2 GB RAM is definitely better for multitasking.

Cameras:

The Nexus 4's 8MP camera compared to the 5MP camera on the Moto G is definitely better for shutterbugs. But, I would warn you not to expect great pictures from budget phones.

Prices:

The Moto G starts from 179$ for the 8GB variant and 199$ for the 16GB variant while the Nexus 4 starts from 199$ for the 8GB model and 249$ for the 16GB model. 

Extra things:

The Nexus 4 has a support for wireless charging if you have a thing for it. Moto G has a removable and replacable back cover with multiple color options. The Moto G also packs other extra features like Motorola Assist and Trusted Bluetooth. You can read the full specifications of both the phones here and here.

Conclusion:

As I always say, it all depends on what suits the best for you. At the end, it is your choice and the person you are gifting to has to live with it :P In my opinion, the Nexus 4 is definitely better but you do pay for it. 

If you are an Apple user coming to Android, the Moto G would be a good kick starter.

So that's it guys, hope to see you soon. If you liked this article, please also read my other articles below and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!