Google Updates Google Now Launcher With Material Design Like Style For Older Devices

If you don’t have a Nexus device but you want things to be as stock as humanly possible when it comes to your home launcher, you can have that look and style thanks to Google’s third party launcher app that was introduced after the launch of Kit Kat, the Google Now Launcher. Google has just sent out an update to this launcher which finally gives users who are on devices running an older version of Android between 4.1 and 4.4 the ability to have their homescreen look and feel more like a device running Android 5.0 Lollipop. The update gives it more of a Lollipop style so if you absolutely had to have some sort of material design like features this is one way you can get them.

While having these new Android 5.0 UI style tidbits is awesome, to get them you’ll also need to make sure your Google app is updated to the latest version too. That should be easy enough since it was updated over a week ago. Once that’s done you should notice that the homescreen with the Google Now Launcher looks a little sweeter with more robust animations like you would expect from something on lollipop, and you can now transition back and forth between your Google accounts from the Google Now screen of the launcher, which you still access by swiping all the way to the left most panel where you’ll find a new slide out screen with your account information just like you’d find inside of other Google apps like the Play Store or Gmail.

While the Google Now Launcher doesn’t give you as much customization as other third party launchers like Nova, Apex and others, it does give you easy access to Google Now (the main component) and it does now let non-Lollipop devices have a little bit of Lollipop on their homescreen. It’s honestly the best choice for most users wanting a stock Android look and feel, unless you’re absolutely in love with the stock UI that comes baked in from you device manufacturer. You can check out the Google Now Launcher live on the Play Store now, and remember to update your Google app too if you haven’t done so in a while.

The post Google Updates Google Now Launcher With Material Design Like Style For Older Devices appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://ift.tt/1AMXJdb

Google Now Launcher update brings Material Design tweaks to KitKat and Jelly Bean

HTC Throws Their Custom UI Internet Browser App On Google Play Store

HTC has placed more than a few of their apps onto the Play Store for download by users, much like Motorola has done with a handful of their own apps as well. HTC’s latest app to hit the Play Store is their internet browser application that’s baked into the Sense UI, so now anyone that uses an HTC device and commonly uses the HTC browser over Chrome or any others, have the ability to receive improvement updates to the app as well as any new enhancements or features that come along when HTC has them ready to go.

Typically with this kind of stuff it’s more of a way for the OEM to get updates to users rather than put their software out there for everyone, as this is still limited to usage on an HTC device. I for example cannot install this on my Sony Xperia Z3. That shouldn’t surprise anyone though as HTC has no reason to want to give their software based apps up to other users who aren’t invested in their hardware. Sony, Motorola, and Samsung all do the same thing with most of their apps too, so this is nothing new and unusual.

For those running an HTC device, waiting for HTC to push out a bigger and more complex software update for the device no longer has to be the same time you get updates to HTC’s Sense UI based apps like the internet browser. The internet browser should be live in the Play Store as of this very moment, and this will make it much easier the next time HTC needs to either fix a few bugs with the app, or push out new features to users. As of now with this Play Store release, there are a few new tweaks but it doesn’t seem to be anything major. The changes include Text Reflow which allows the text to be wrapped and fit the width of the screen, making it easier to browse when you zoom in or out. There’s also a “read later” feature now so users can save articles for offline reading or simply in case they just need to save articles for a later time when they’re able to read it. HTC has also redesigned the interface to make the browser easier to read.

The post HTC Throws Their Custom UI Internet Browser App On Google Play Store appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://ift.tt/1AMPwpl

Verizon’s next generation road assistance will help prevent common automotive issues

It’s 2015, and by now companies have found ways to use technology to improve many different aspects of life through the advent of technology. One area that hasn’t advanced very far — at least as far as carriers are concerned — is road assistance. It’s still mostly a quick call to a toll-free number in the event that you get into an accident or the vehicle breaks down.

Verizon’s looking to improve their own offering with today’s announcement of Verizon Vehicle. What you’re getting is a comprehensive suite of road assistance tools that’ll assure you’ll never be stranded in an unfortunate case of the roadsies.

Highlights of the service include GPS location for mechanics and tow truck drivers to find your exact location with ease, one-touch access to SOS and help, an automatic alert to Verizon in the event that the heads-up unit detects you may have been in an accident, and more. Here’s the full rundown:

• GPS-directed pinpoint Roadside Assistance for breakdowns, flat tires, overheating, a dead battery — anything that might require towing or immediate repair. Dispatches are made to the exact location of a disabled vehicle.


• Automatic Urgent Incident Alert System places a call to the Verizon Vehicle Member Care Center in the event of a suspected accident. Help is immediately dispatched to the location if an accident is confirmed or there is no response from the driver. The time saved can potentially save lives by delivering critical emergency assistance when a person may not be able to call for help.


• One-Button SOS Assistance immediately connects the driver to a live agent for emergency aid.


• Auto Health System with Predictive Diagnostics translates most “Check Engine” light occurrences into real terms, including the description and severity of the matter, the probable solutions for the problem — and the appropriate cost for the repairs. The system is also designed to provide early warnings relating to some vehicle functions, even before a warning light comes on, to help keep you off the side of the road.


• Mechanic’s Hotline is staffed with A.S.E. Certified Mechanics providing members access to immediate and unbiased information related to their vehicles, and a professional analysis of trouble they may be experiencing.


• Parking & Meter Tools help drivers find where they left their vehicle — using the Verizon Vehicle smartphone app — while also keeping track of how much time is left on the meter.


• Maintenance Alerts inform vehicle owners when scheduled maintenance is required. No more guesswork as to when to rotate those tires or change the oil.


• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance guides drivers when reporting a theft and helps authorities recover the stolen vehicle.


• Travel & Repair Savings — Verizon Vehicle members will be entitled to substantial discounts on hotels, vehicle rentals, auto maintenance, repairs and related travel expenses.

It’s nothing you can’t already get from other third-party independent roadside services companies or something like OnStar that comes with a number of vehicles, but if you prefer to do all your bidding through your mobile carrier then this should be on your radar. It’ll cost you $14.99 per month for one car, and every other car you get hooked up beyond that will be another $12.99.

The heads-up mount kit is included in that cost so you won’t have to worry about any extra charges for hardware. To boot, it’s all available via pre-sale so you can sign up for it right now to make sure you’re one of the first ones in line for Verizon Vehicle once it launches later this year. The first month will be free and your billing won’t begin until your device has been delivered so don’t hesitate to sign up if you’re interested.

from Phandroid http://ift.tt/1z7oD1n

Refreshed Google Now Launcher brings even more Material to non-Lollipop devices

It’s been awhile since we last saw an update to the Google Now Launcher in the Play Store (not since August 1st, according to Google). And while there still isn’t an update available quite yet, an update to the Google app is infusing even more Material design into the Google Now Launcher.

We were puzzled after our Google Now Launcher on our HTC One M8 — still running KitKat, mind you — suddenly looked identical to the version running on our stock Moto X Pure Edition. The search bar has finally been whited out, along with the app drawer button and app drawer itself. Turns out, after diving into our app settings, the actual Google Now Launcher app wasn’t updated at all (the version number stayed the same) — it was the regular ‘ol Google app all along.

You may remember that both the Google app and Google Now Launcher are closely tied together. This has something to do with the fact that Google Now is so closely integrated into the launcher (accessible by swiping to the right on the home screen). In any case, if you’re looking to update the look of the Google Now Launcher to mirror more closely our Lollipop brethren, update the Google app in the Google Play Store. Link below.

Google (Playboard) | Google (Play Store)

from Phandroid http://ift.tt/1z7njeT

Google Updates Sheets App For The Web To Add Images Into Header Cells

All updates big and small have a meaningful purpose, and while they may not affect you personally, there is someone out there that is likely overjoyed with even the tiniest of changes and tweaks. This could be the case with Google’s latest update to Google Sheets, the spreadsheet application similar to Microsoft Excel for those who are unaware. In today’s minor update Google has given the capability to users to add in images to the “header cells” of the spreadsheet, which is great for people that want to add logos to the top of their spreadsheets for a little bit of a more professional look.

The header cell is basically the top cell on the spreadsheet after you freeze that particular row, which you can then add text (and now images) to, almost like the title of a book or the headline of a news article. The header can tell you what the spreadsheet is about, and now it can be a great place for inserting logos and other imagery if you have the need or the desire to do so when creating new spreadsheets. At this point in time it doesn’t look like you have the ability to create header cells on the Android app let alone add images into them, so for now we’ll go ahead and assume this is limited to the web app that can be accessed from the browser.

Nonetheless, having this feature does seem like it could come in handy if you were creating a spreadsheet of a schedule (like the mock up image we have above) or a spreadsheet of quarterly earnings which you may need to send to investors. This isn’t exactly a monumental addition or change to Google Sheets by any means, but like we said above even really minor tweaks serve a purpose. If you’d like to start using this feature yourself the next time you create a spreadsheet, all you have to do is create a header cell first, and to do that just click on the first row, navigate to the view button up top, click it and then find and click freeze row 1. After that it’s as simple as inserting the image from the “insert” button and then choosing the image you want in the header. Do you find this new feature useful?

The post Google Updates Sheets App For The Web To Add Images Into Header Cells appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://ift.tt/1BkJ9uU

The Alleged Xiaomi Mi5 Shows Its Face Again Along With Its Benchmarks Score

We’ve been seeing a ton of leaked Xiaomi material lately, mostly the alleged designs of Xiaomi Mi5 which have been leaking like crazy over the last couple of weeks, and especially since Xiaomi’s CEO announced that the company will launch their new flagship on January 15. We’re still not certain whether Xiaomi will launch the Mi5 or not, they have been teasing the Redmi Note 2, and that handset even got listed on Oppomart. Xiaomi will definitely launch the Redmi Note 2 and has even described it as a flagship handset in one of their teasers, so the question remains, will they launch the Mi5 as well? It remains to be seen, but we’ve seen a ton of Mi5 material lately, as I said, and they might actually launch both of these devices.

Talking about the Mi5 leaks, we have a new one to share with you. Four new alleged Xiaomi Mi4S / Mi5 images popped up in China, you can check all of them in the gallery below this article, and in one of them you can even see the benchmark result of the device. The phone in this pictures actually resembles the one that leaked several times now, although this one seems to have a somewhat bigger bezels on the sides. I could be wrong, but it seems like it, don’t get me wrong though, the bezels are still very thin. The device itself looks more like a Mi4S than Mi5 to be quite honest, judging by its design, but your opinion might be different, of course. Either way, we’re getting way too many leaks of the Mi4S / Mi5 and I do expect Xiaomi to pull the trigger sometime soon, it will be interesting to see if it will launch next to the Redmi Note 2 on January 15.

According to previous leaks, the Mi5 is expected to feature a 5.2-6″ 1080p or quadHD display along with 3 or 4GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel OIS camera on the back. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 or 810 processor will power on this handset according to reports, and the device is rumored to cost 2,299 Yuan ($371) in China, which would be a great price for this thing considering its specs and design. Do you think Xiaomi will launch the Mi4’s successor on January 15 or not?

The post The Alleged Xiaomi Mi5 Shows Its Face Again Along With Its Benchmarks Score appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://ift.tt/1Cc7IIR