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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files)

You know how we often spend days hunting down the over-the-air (OTA) .zip files for Nexus updates to try and get you updates faster than Google sends them? We may not need to do that any longer because Google started posting the files today. I’m not kidding – the .zip OTA files are now up on the Google Developers site, right next to the factory images. 

Google includes instructions for flashing these .zip files, which include using a bit of adb and the “adb sideload” command. We also have instructions for it here.

At this time, they are only populating the page with recent update files (Android 6.0.1) for the Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, and Nexus Player.

Pretty sweet, though, right?

Nexus OTA Image Link

Google Begins Posting OTA Images for Nexus Devices (the .Zip Files) is a post from: Droid Life



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Report: Samsung to Implement “Focus” Communication Hub Into Galaxy Note 6

According to the latest from SamMobile, Samsung will look to implement a feature called Samsung Focus into the Galaxy Note 6, a communication hub of sorts, similar to BlackBerry Hub. Hub is a one-stop shop for different email services, social networks and texting services, allowing users to do most of their communication via a single application. That is Samsung’s goal with Focus, reportedly.

Claimed by SamMobile, Focus will focus on email, calendar events, handle contacts, and memos. It’s possible that Focus could simply replace all of Samsung’s general applications that handle these tasks, but that seems unlikely. As an example of usage, a user could log into various social networks from Focus, such as Facebook and Twitter, and handle all of the communication from the Focus hub. In addition, you could manage different email accounts from Focus, handling all incoming and outgoing messages from the same inbox. Same could be said for instant messages and texts.

From what SamMobile has seen so far, the app appears to be designed rather well, borrowing heavily from Google’s Material Design. For consumers, that’s a good thing. Upon opening the app, your daily schedule will be listed, along with dedicated pages for contacts and memos. As previously stated, it would be your go-to app for communication and networking.

With Samsung reportedly set to launch Focus with the Galaxy Note 6, it is currently unknown if it will be brought to past Samsung devices, but it is somewhat expected to at least make it available to Galaxy S7 models.

While it’s nothing new that Samsung wants to create yet another app, if Focus might rid the Galaxy Note 6 of other Samsung apps, that would be most welcomed. Here in the US, Google provides most of its popular apps (Calendar, Messenger, etc.) on Google Play these days, so doubling up with Samsung apps is just overboard.

Are you interested in Focus?

Via: SamMobile

Report: Samsung to Implement “Focus” Communication Hub Into Galaxy Note 6 is a post from: Droid Life



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Hey, Remember Google Now on Tap? Oh, Well, Here is a Video on How It Works

Maybe Google read the comments of this thread of ours or maybe they plan to give it another go at Google I/O next week, but the latest video from the Google YouTube channel is all about Google Now on Tap and how it works. Did you forget about it or have you yet to find an occasion where you needed it? This video could help give you some motivation.

Also, is anyone else wondering why they are referring to Android Marshmallow as just Android M? Is that a new thing going forward? Did I miss that memo?

Hey, Remember Google Now on Tap? Oh, Well, Here is a Video on How It Works is a post from: Droid Life



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NVIDIA and Bethesda Launch Fallout 4 Live Wallpaper, Filled With Bobbleheads

Fallout 4. It’s super legit. For fans of the franchise, NVIDIA has teamed up with the creators, Bethesda, launching a live wallpaper app of all things to Google Play. The Fallout 4 Live Wallpaper features an assortment of bobbleheads from the Fallout game, allowing users to deck out their home screen with their favorites.

The overall animations you will see are very basic, with the bobbleheads sitting on top of a table. When you swipe through your screens, the lighting and positioning will change, but the bobbleheads don’t move. In the settings of the app, you can choose five specific bobbleheads to show off, or you can have the app randomize which bobbleheads are shown. According to the app’s description, there are 20 Fallout 4 bobbleheads to choose from, including Sneak, Melee, Luck, and Agility.

Live wallpapers haven’t really been relevant for the past few years, but since this is Fallout 4, they just received a violent shove back into relevancy.

You can download the app right now on Google Play for free.

Play Link

NVIDIA and Bethesda Launch Fallout 4 Live Wallpaper, Filled With Bobbleheads is a post from: Droid Life



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Jeff Koons Nexus Live Cases are Now Available for $40, and Here’s How to Make a Balloon Swan

The Jeff Koons designed Nexus Live Cases that Google began teasing yesterday are now available for purchase on the Google Store. Priced at $40, you will find three different limited edition cases, all of which are individually numbered.

Not familiar with Jeff Koons? I know nothing of him either, but Google calls him “one of the world’s greatest living artists” who is best known for his “Gazing Ball” series, where he re-creates previous masterpiece paintings and then places a large blue gazing ball in front of them. He also does public sculptures and created a special live wallpaper for these cases that is built from Koons’ favorite moments from the Swan Lake ballet. 

The three cases are called Diana, Mailbox, and Bust, include the NFC button on the back like other Live Cases, feature that live wallpaper I just mentioned of the Swan Lake ballet, and will allow you to receive “exclusive digital artwork created by the artist and sent directly to your phone.”

If none of that interests you, well, how about a tutorial from Koons on how to make a balloon swan?

Google Store Link

Jeff Koons Nexus Live Cases are Now Available for $40, and Here’s How to Make a Balloon Swan is a post from: Droid Life



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Giveaway: Win 1 of 8 $25 Google Play Promo Codes, Just Because

We are feeling good today, so let’s give away a few Google Play promo codes. These codes will allow the eight different winners to purchase whatever they might want on Google Play, including apps, games, movies, books, music, or whatever. It’s your money, do what you please.

We have $200 worth of codes up for grabs, split up in $25 increments. That is a total of eight winners. On Thursday (5/12) at 10am PST, we will choose our eight winners via Rafflecopter.

Let’s do this. 

Contest

Prizes

Eight (8) individuals will win one (1) of eight (8) $25 Google Play promo codes. The codes are redeemable via Google Play’s desktop site or via a mobile device in the Google Play app.

How to Enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners

We will contact our winners via email with their $25 code. Please see this list here to make sure you live in a country where Google Play credit is supported. If you do, you are free to enter.

Giveaway: Win 1 of 8 $25 Google Play Promo Codes, Just Because is a post from: Droid Life



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FCC and FTC Want to Figure Out Why Security Updates Take so Long to Get to You

Because security is always of the utmost importance, but maybe even more so today on mobile because we all have a smartphone and use it for everything we do, the FCC wants to figure out why it’s taking carriers and manufacturers such a long time to get you updates, namely security patches. Yesterday, through a press release, the FCC announced that it is partnering with the FTC to open an inquiry into mobile device security updates. The basic idea here is that they want carriers and manufacturers to tell them their process for updating, to see what can be improved. 

The announcement from the FCC name-drops Stagefright as an example, a vulnerability that really had the potential to be a disaster for many people, but has since been patched a number of times by Google. Stagefright was such a big deal during much of last year that companies like Google, Samsung, and LG all promised monthly security patches to try and protect users going forward. Unfortunately, not everyone got on board with the monthly schedule and there could be millions of vulnerable people still to date with older devices that are no longer supported by OEMs or carriers.

The FCC sent letters carriers with questions about the processes for “reviewing and releasing security updates for mobile devices.” They want to know things like, if the carrier faces issues or hurdles in releasing updates, if there are hurdles getting users to install new updates, if carriers know if updates have been installed, and if security vulnerabilities in mobile devices pose threats to their networks. They also want to know all of the parties involved in getting an update ready and pushed out, how this process works differently from one operating system to the next, and when do carriers cut off security patch support for devices.

I can’t help but applaud the FCC for probing carriers over security updates, but will say that many of them have become quite good at getting out the monthly patches that start with Google and then carry on through companies like Samsung, LG and HTC. Thankfully, the FTC says that it is going after eight phone manufacturers (Apple, Blackberry, Google, HTC, LG, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, and Samsung) to find out similar information. That’s a good thing, because there are certainly a couple that need to get with the program.

All parties have 45 days to respond to the FCC and FTC, so it could be a while before we know anything, including findings, thoughts, and if there are going to be recommendations for improving the entire process.

Via:  FCC (PDF) | FTC (PDF)

FCC and FTC Want to Figure Out Why Security Updates Take so Long to Get to You is a post from: Droid Life



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Unlocked HTC 10 Receiving Update, Brings More Camera Tweaks and System Improvements

An update for the unlocked HTC 10, labeled as 1.53.617.5, is rolling out to those in the US. While it doesn’t include Android N or anything fancy like that, it does include a few very important performance tweaks.

As listed in the changelog, users can expect an improved camera experience (seriously, the camera needs a big boost in speed), enhanced WiFi stability, as well as system stability improvements. Once updated, the overall phone should behave and perform better, which is always a good update in our book. 

The update, which is available to pull right now in the US, weighs in at nearly 400MB. Get yourself on WiFi and grab it.

HTC 10 Update

Unlocked HTC 10 Receiving Update, Brings More Camera Tweaks and System Improvements is a post from: Droid Life



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Samsung Introduces 256GB MicroSD Card, Available in June for $250

Just picked up a discounted 200GB microSD card for that shiny new flagship of yours? Samsung thinks you should have waited. The Korean electronics giant introduced a mega-card today, with 256GB of capacity and read/write speeds of 95MB/s and 90MB/s. It’s a beast of a little card. 

The card, which goes on sale in June for $249.99, is likely releasing now because Samsung’s Gear 360 camera is also making the rounds. As you can imagine, those 360-degree video files aren’t going to be small, so if you are interested in one, a card with 256GB of storage is probably going to be worth the investment. In fact, Samsung mentions specifically that this new 256GB card will be great for “graphic intensive multimedia like virtual reality and gaming” and 4K video recording.

Need some numbers? At 256GB, you could store 55,200 photos, 12 hours of 4K video, 33 hours of full HD video, and 23,500 MP3 files. The card is waterproof (IPX7), temperature-proof, x-ray-proof, and magnetic-proof. All the proofs, guys.

Samsung says that this new 256GB card comes with a limited 10-year warranty in more than 50 countries, including the US, China, and Europe.

Via:  Samsung

Samsung Introduces 256GB MicroSD Card, Available in June for $250 is a post from: Droid Life



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Verizon’s LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are All Getting Updates

Last night, Verizon approved updates for the LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ and finally provided changelogs and software versions for each this morning. The updates are minor, as you would expect, but do tweak a few things while bringing security patches.

The G5, as the newer of the three, is getting an update to software version VS98712A that includes UI tweaks to Visual Voice Mail, a change to the way airplane mode can be enabled when a secure lock is present, and data displaying of Microsoft Exchange Active Server use. 

The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are each getting software version VRU2BPD4, which does indeed include the latest Android security patches, along with a change that allows you to answer video calls as if they were voice-only calls.

To grab each update, head into some variation of Settings>About phone or Settings>Software updates.

Via:  Verizon [2] [3]

Verizon’s LG G5, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are All Getting Updates is a post from: Droid Life



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