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Android 5.1 arrives with HD calling and safeguards for stolen phones
After weeks of teasing, it's here: Google has officially unveiled Android 5.1 Lollipop. The new release focuses on support for features that usually depend on extra software to work, such as multiple SIM cards (handy for prepaid service in countries like China and India) and higher-quality HD voice calls on networks like T-Mobile or Verizon. You can control your WiFi networks and Bluetooth devices from the quick settings area, too.
Text message exploit can force your Nexus phone to reboot (updated)
Watch out if someone sends a flood of text messages to your Nexus phone -- they may be trying to break in or otherwise cause havoc. IT administrator Bogdan Alecu has discovered an Android bug that triggers exploitable behavior in the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 whenever they're hit by a large volume of Class 0 SMS messages, or texts that aren't automatically stored on the phone. The denial of service attack usually forces the handset to reboot, but it can also disable the network connection (if temporarily) or crash the messaging app. Non-Nexus hardware appears to be safe, although Alecu notes that he hasn't had a chance to test a wide variety of gadgets. Regardless of the problem's scale, affected users will have to be cautious for a while; Google tells PCWorld that it's looking into the exploit, but there's no word on just when we can expect a patch. Update: There's already a firewall app in Google Play that protects against the exploit. Thanks, Chipsy4!
Android 4.4 KitKat arrives on Nexus 4 handsets
Last week, Google announced that KitKat would arrive on the Nexus 4 and data-packing Nexus 7 models "soon." Well, it appears that around seven days was the wait time as Android 4.4 is rolling out to last year's Nexus handsets -- a day after Verizon starting pushing the update to the Moto X. We've seen multiple reports of the update's arrival with the promise of improved performance and a wealth of new features in tow. Keep an eye on those notifications, as the latest version of Google's mobile OS should be on it's way to your Nexus 5 predecessor.
Wireless Charger for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 available today on Google Play
Google's Nexus Wireless Charger, designed to work with the Nexus 4 and 5 smartphones and the Nexus 7 tablet, is available for purchase today on Google Play. The compact Qi power cube ships with a 9-watt AC adapter and a micro-USB cable, and it may make it to your doorstep by the end of the week (if you opt for the $17 overnight delivery). For residents of Hong Kong and India, the good nws is that the Nexus 5 and Nexus are now available on Google Play. The charger will run you $50 plus tax on its own, and another $5.29 for ground shipping. Snag it now at the source link below.
Google launches Android game vending machines, puts first ones in Tokyo (naturally)
In a country that has no shortage of vending machines, Google Japan has decided to join the fray. The company has announced three dedicated Google Play machines that will each sell 18 different gaming titles, which are a mix of free-to-play and paid-for titles. To use the machines, you'll need a smartphone running Android 4.0 and NFC -- and that's about it. You rest the phone on the tray below the screen, and NFC pairing takes care of the rest. We put the machine to the test with our LG G2 on hand, and had no troubles choosing and downloading a free game through the machine. There's a slick unified animation from the giant touchscreen (which looks almost identical to drinks machines elsewhere in the country) to your Android phone of choice when the download kicks in. Also, for trying out another Google app, you'll get a 'present' which 'drops' down from the screen and into the vending tray once your download is complete. Not an Android user? Don't worry, because the vending machine will offer up a Nexus 4 for you to try out, although you do have to give it back, however. Several boiler-suited Google employees will man the machines when they're switched on tomorrow in front of the Parco department store in Shibuya. The machines will be there for a limited ten-day run -- but it's another great excuse to hit up the country's vending machines.
Google's KitKat statue unveiling may have leaked a new Nexus phone (update: video removed)
We always enjoy Google's new statues for each version of Android, however the one posted just now for KitKat / 4.4 may have a bonus treat. The Googler in the green shirt is holding a device that reads Nexus on the back, however compared to the woman conveniently holding a Nexus 4 just inches away, it's clearly not the same. The word Nexus is spelled out in a different direction, the camera seems different, and it looks bigger than the Nexus 4, but it appears to have an LG logo on the bottom. The video is embedded after the break, you can catch a glimpse of the mystery unit about 38 seconds in. It's certainly curious timing for a new device to pop up, right after the old one dropped in price and is out of stock for at least one version. Update: Well, you could have seen it in the video but Google has suddenly yanked it from YouTube, adding even more intrigue to the situation. We've contacted the company for a statement and will let you know if we hear anything. Update 2: One of our commenters linked another video of the unveiling that also shows the device. It's taken from behind the people shown above, and while we can't get a clear look at the screen you can get a better idea of the phone's dimensions. Whoops! It looks like that one's gone now too. [Thanks, Mike and everyone else who sent this in]
8GB Nexus 4 is sold out at Google Play and it won't be coming back, new Nexus handset on the way?
If you were still holding out before committing funds for a Nexus 4, seems like you missed your chance at the 8GB version. The $200 handset has sold out at Google Play in the US and the folks in Mountain View tell The Verge that it's not coming back. Those still eyeing the device can splurge for the 16GB option, while 8GB phones remain available in other global locales until the current stock is depleted. This certainly begs the question: is a new Nexus device on the way? With the Nexus 4 quickly approaching the year-old mark in October and a new version of Android on the horizon, this could be a signal that the new Nexus is just around the bend. We've reached out to Google on the matter and we'll update here as soon as we hear back.
Weekly Roundup: Peripheral Vision, Samsung's rumored Galaxy Gear, Nexus 4 price drop, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: Portable Audio buyer's guide, Nexus 4 price drop, Nintendo 2DS, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Nexus 4 price drops by $100 to $199 for 8GB, $249 for 16GB (update)
The cheapest unlocked stock Android phone you could buy just got even cheaper: Google has dropped the price of the Nexus 4 8GB to $199 (£159) from $299 (£239), and the 16GB model to $249 (£199) from $349 (£279). It's fast approaching the anniversary date of the latest Google phone, so the timing is about right for the discount. However, we do wonder if this means a replacement is nigh. After all, Google has yet to introduce the next Nexus successor, and we certainly don't think the Moto X is all the Mountain View company has to offer. Until then, the Nexus 4 is pretty much the best smartphone deal for stock Android lovers who hate carrier contracts. So if you feel like snatching one up, you had best hit the store link below before it sells out yet again. Update: The Google Play Twitter account just sent out a tweet stating that the 25 percent discount (or more) applies not only in the US, but also Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea and the UK. We've embedded the tweet after the break.
Android 4.3 update causing problems with Nexus 4 handsets, rendering some unusable
While Android 4.3 is a relatively minor upgrade in the grand scheme of things -- bringing restricted profiles and some added graphical grunt to the platform -- it seems that the new OS version is wreaking havoc on some Nexus 4 devices. On Google's Product Forums, most people having problems report that after the update is downloaded and installed, their handsets either freeze on the 'X' splash screen or get stuck in a never-ending boot loop. For now, folks report that the only fix is to factory reset their handsets or flash to an older version of Android, and lose all of their saved data in the process. While there are no shortage of people apparently stuck in update purgatory, it's unclear exactly how widespread the problem is; our own in-house Nexus 4 received 4.3 without issue. Additionally, the new Android version isn't playing nice with Netflix on Nexus 4's, either. After upgrading, launching the Netflix app is causing some handsets to freeze up -- and only resetting the phone with a long press of the power button will get the phone working again. Android engineer Dan Morrill has said that Google is aware of the Netflix issue, however, and that its working on a fix. Regardless, Nexus 4 owners might want to think twice before upgrading. We've reached out to Google for an official comment on these problems, and will update this post should we receive one.
Android 4.3 leaks for the Nexus 4, teases us one last time
Oh, Android 4.3, why must you tease us so? The new version of Jelly Bean's been making cameos all over the place for a couple months now, so it was only a matter of time until we'd see a build available for download. A working TWRP backup of Android 4.3 just popped up on XDA Developers thanks to Google+ user Jeff Williams, who recently purchased a Nexus 4 running the new version of Jelly Bean. Some industrious folks were then able to extract a system dump from Jeff's phone (minus radio and bootloader, according to Android Police) and confirm that the build (JWR66N) is legitimate. Our friend Paul O'Brien over at MoDaCo is currently testing the TWRP backup. We'll keep you updated as we find out more, but one thing's abundantly clear: it won't be long before Android 4.3 becomes official.
IRL: Macally Ecofan Pro and the Nexus 4 on Telus
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Is it worth spending $40 on a laptop stand? How about $299 on a Nexus 4? Yes and yes, at least if you ask the Engadget staff. After the break, Don Melanson explains why he splurged on a solid wood notebook stand, and Jon Fingas makes a case for the Nexus 4 as a budget handset.
Vudu for Android now available on (some) phones, not just tablets
Vudu's player for Android launched last year with tablet support, and now a new update lets it work on a limited selection of phones. Newer Samsung handsets, the Nexus 4, HTC One and several other devices round out the list, as the app works for either streaming or downloading movies. It worked without issue on our Nexus 4, however since its UI hasn't changed from the tablet version some of the buttons were smaller than we'd like. Also, we couldn't get the video to play in any res beyond SD so it wasn't the sharpest, but there was a high enough bitrate to make movie-watching enjoyable on the small screen. As usual, the app is free, if you have an account with the VOD / Ultraviolet service hit the Play Store link below to see if works on your hardware of choice.
White Nexus 4 sells out, no longer available on Google Play
If you've been putting off buying a white Nexus 4, be ready to wallow in regret: you've missed your chance to get one straight from Google Play. Both the 8GB and 16GB versions are "no longer available for sale," a little more than a month after the company's online store started carrying them. A Google spokesperson told us that the alabaster phone has indeed sold out, and that the Play Store won't carry it again, as it was a limited edition release. All's not lost, though -- T-Mobile still sells the white Nexus 4, but you'll pay a slight premium for it.
Engadget UK Giveaway: win a Nexus 4 courtesy of Mobile Fun
Didn't win the HTC One from last week's UK giveaway? No problem, we're back with another. This time all thanks go to our friends at Mobile Fun, who've handed over a brand-spanking new Nexus 4 for us to pass on (possibly) to you. Sound like something you could be interested in? Well, if you're a UK resident, and meet the requirements in the fine print after the break, make sure you're in it to... well, you know the rest. Winner: Congratulations to Ben Hogan for winning the Nexus 4 this week!
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 27th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, a new addition to the LG L-Series surfaced in Russia, a Lumia 920 was sighted that'd make Oscar the Grouch flip, and TalkTalk added three new devices from Huawei to its roster. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of May 27th, 2013.
White Nexus 4 now available in US Google Play Store and T-Mobile (video)
It's just a new hue for a seven-month-old phone, but there are still a few Nexus 4 enthusiasts who are ecstatic that a white version has finally been released. It officially launched two days ago in Hong Kong, but it's now hitting the US Google Play Store (with a free white bumper), as well as T-Mobile's website "for a limited time." If the $299 / $349 Play Store price is above your budget, the UnCarrier's financing plan will be your best option: it's offering the alabaster Android device for $20 down with 24 monthly payments of $17 (bringing the full retail cost to $428). If your country's Play Store isn't selling the new color yet, be patient -- its rollout over the rest of North America, Asia and Europe will continue over the next few weeks. Update: hit the break for our unboxing video, in case you missed it earlier this week.
Google says Nexus device series 'will continue'
With all this talk of stock Android on your favorite smartphones, we'd be forgiven for thinking it might be the end of the road of Google's Nexus brand of tablets and phones. But at today's D11 conference, Google's SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps, Sundar Pichai, has said that it will continue to make them and that, "the goal behind Nexus was to guide the ecosystem. But that will continue as well." So that's stock Android on Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One, the Moto X and more Nexus devices. The company's keeping busy.
The Daily Roundup for 05.28.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
