All About Android 122

All About Android Episode 122

Guest

• Myriam Joire
• @tnkgrl

News

• Trouble in Android paradise between Google and Qualcomm?

A little Google drama to report: First, Android Police noted that the new Nexus 7 factory images had not yet been released, something that usually happens rather quickly when it comes to Google's own Nexus line.

Then the man that heads up the Android Open Source Project for Google, Jean-Baptiste Queru, announced on G+ that he was quitting AOSP noting "There’s no point being the maintainer of an Operating System that can’t boot to the home screen on its flagship device for lack of GPU support, especially when I’m getting the blame for something that I don’t have authority to fix myself and that I had anticipated and escalated more than 6 months ahead." The GPU for the Nexus 7 is courtesy of Qualcomm, so the issue appeared to be related to that. And Jean-Baptiste is well liked in the Android dev community so this came as quite an unexpected shock.

Finally, Google made the images available shortly after all this went down.

So its easy to instantly peg the Nexus 7 based on these details as the reason for Jean-Baptiste's departure from AOSP. As it turns out, the Samsung Nexus 10 is currently not supported in AOSP as of 4.3 meaning no graphics drivers are out with the 10, where as EVERYTHING is out for the 7.

One things is for sure. We don't know which scenario brought Jean-Baptiste to the breaking point, but it's really too bad to see such well-respected member of the Android development community bow out of AOSP.

• Google releases factory images and binaries for new Nexus 7, seemingly ending dispute with Qualcomm
• Nexus 10 Is Not Yet Supported In AOSP 4.3, Graphics Driver Looks Like The Culprit
• Android is crushing iOS everywhere… except in America

IDC estimates Android accounted for almost 80% of smartphones shipped in Q2 2013. But in the US, that might be a different story. Asymco's Horace Dediu says Android might have peaked with stalled growth this past quarter. The number of US Android users declined for the first time ever, albeit slightly, from a 52.4% share to 52%.

• Signs of US Android net user decline
• Google Glass XE8 brings Google Now and more Voice commands

New Google Glass update!

Improvements include:

Video controls (RW, FW, Pause)

Google Now (Movie cards, reservations, events, public alerts, Happy Bdays)

Voice commands to add hashtags and captions to photos/videos

Better voice navigation commands (stop nave once arrived, show/hide route)

Volume control

Voice note capabilities for Evernote/Path for starters (meaning 3rd party voice commands)

No pause needed in voice commands now (OK Glass, take a picture without a pause)

Email

I recently converted all my passwords that were saved on Chrome's sync function to a Lastpass premium account. This works very well - even cross platform - on my PCs. However, on my Nexus 4 it is not so easy. I have switched to Dolphin Browser because it allows for add-ons, but, overall I feel that it is not a good user experience on the mobile platform. I know that Gina, at least, uses Lastpass. Can you provide some tips for how to effectively use the service on Android?

Thank you!

Ian Frank

• Useful +LastPass tweak on Android

Hardware

• LG G2 announced

LG G2 Specs:

2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor

2GB RAM

5.2" 1080p IPS display with dedicated graphic RAM

16GB/32GB storage

13mp RFC

2.1mp FFC

3,000mAh battery

Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

24 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback

Black and white color options

Power and volume rocker on the BACK of the phone

New UI features:

Answer Me — Auto-answer phone when lifted to ear

Plug & Pop — Recommends options or related features to choose from when the earphone or USB cable is detected.

Text Link — Allows information embedded in text messages to be selected and easily saved in a memo or calendar and searched on a map or the internet.

QuickRemote — Not only can LG G2 be used to remotely control popular home entertainment devices, it can also learn from conventional remotes and be customized to operate multiple devices with flexible layouts and keys.

Slide Aside — Enables easier multitasking by simply “sliding” open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe.

Guest Mode — Protects owner’s privacy by displaying only pre-selected apps when guests access the phone with a secondary unlock pattern.

• LG Has No Plans To Launch A Google Play Edition G2 With Stock Android
• LG Shows Off The G2’s Rear Key, Audio Zooming & Other New Features
• Related: 20 injured as Korean LG G2 publicity stunt backfires
• NEXT NEXUS RUMORVILE: New Nexus 10 To Be Made ASUS According To Geek.com, Former WSJ Reporter Conveniently ""Clarifies"" Samsung Rumor

Russell Holly says that the next Nexus 10 will be made by ASUS and not Samsung, based on information from multiple sources and Best Buy inventory listings with a release sometime around the Holiday. Also, Taylor Wimberly of Android and Me, who was VERY spot-on with rumory tidbits leading up to the Moto X, is saying that the next Nexus phone will hit in Q4 as well and it will be produced by none other than Motorola.

• Motorola will release a Nexus smartphone in Q4 (that is not the Moto X).
• Users report new Nexus 7 suffering from GPS issues

Speaking of Nexus devices, trouble in the new Nexus 7 world. Many users reporting not only GPS issues that sometimes halt navigation, but also multitouch errors where phantom touches begin to register for no good reason. In both cases, Google is aware of the issues and has said that the Android team is investigating.

• Some 2013 Nexus 7 users report buggy multitouch, Google is investigating

Quick Hardware Showcase!

• Sony Xperia Tablet Z
• Moto X
• Butterfly S
• HTC One mini

Apps

• Koush Demonstrates Streaming To Chromecast With Any Media App On CyanogenMod

Koush (KOH-SH) showed off his development of Chromecasting pretty much any app running on CyanogenMod that has video or audio playback capability, even if the app hasn't enabled it. And what did Koush use to show off such awesome capabilities? Oh you know… just this… little show… You've probably never heard of it...

• Google Play Books adds highlighting in scanned books and support for rental content
• Google investigating “Package File Invalid” error preventing Google Play updates/downloads

Are you one of the growing number of people who tried to update or download an app in the Play Store only to get an error message stating "Package File Invalid?" It's not you. It's Google. They are aware of the problem and are working on a permanent solution, they say.

Email

I went on an alaskan cruise last week and dropped my phone on the last night of the cruise (Moto. Droid Razr) and the screen cracked. it's not accepting touch or anything

but now for the real problem. I met a really awesome girl on this cruise and got her number. but because I was at sea I had my data turned off when I dropped my phone (therefore no contact sync) is there a way I can recover this contact via my pc?

Eternally Grateful,

Nathan S.

• Possible fixes

Android Arena!

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Production Information

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