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Cyanogen 13.1 adds Microsoft features to OnePlus One phones
You'll find an important update waiting on your OnePlus One, if you haven't installed it yet: Cyanogen OS 13.1. The OS' latest version is "MOD ready," which means the manufacturer can tweak parts of the Android-based platform it couldn't before. In fact, version 13.1 already comes with the "mods" Cyanogen introduced in February, which mostly insert Microsoft features into various parts of the software. For instance, you can now make Skype calls straight from the device's Phone app and use OneNote to take notes within the Email and Phone applications.
Cortana starts rolling out on Cyanogen for OnePlus One
If you're a lucky owner of a OnePlus One phone, you can now find Microsoft's Cortana virtual assistant after updating to the Cyanogen 12.1.1 release. As we've reported, the integration is a particularly intriguing move for Microsoft. It's already launchd Cortana on Android and iOS, but the Cyanogen integration goes even deeper, allowing you to use the "Hey Cortana" voice command just about anywhere on the device. You can even change some phone settings, like enabling silencing or changing network modes, something that Cortana can't do platforms outside of Windows Phone.
OnePlus X phone to be unveiled on October 29th
OnePlus might be struggling to get its second phone into people's hands, but that hasn't stopped it from pressing ahead with another handset launch. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei had already confirmed that a third phone is on the way, but now we have a date for the grand unveiling: October 29th. A London event for the "OnePlus X" was teased on social media, while a blog post on its Chinese site confirms a companion event in Beijing. Earlier this month a new OnePlus handset was spotted in an FCC filing, revealing a 5.5-inch display and an industrial design that looks like an amalgamation of past and present iPhones. A few other, unexciting specs were confirmed in the process; a 1.9GHz processor and support for LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi and FM radios. Further details have reportedly leaked through an Amazon India listing, but we'll let you decide if they're trustworthy.
CyanogenMod now supports more mid-range Huawei, Motorola phones
Cyanogen's partnership with OnePlus may be over, but the company is still hard at work to make sure its namesake Android ROM will run on just about everything else. According to a new post on the company blog, its been working with device manufactures like Xiaomi, Motorola, Oppo and others to extend official support to a wider array of mid-range Android handsets -- and it has a list of devices to prove it.
OnePlus 2 teardown reveals easy-to-replace modular components
We previewed the OnePlus 2 for you in the past, but if you'd rather see some internal component porn, iFixit has got your back. iFixit has taken the device apart like it did the first OnePlus phone (and many, many other gadgets before it) to examine its inner workings. The eye-catching orange battery is still there and its display parts are still fused (and expensive to replace!), but the OnePlus 2 is apparently more repairable than its predecessor. Many of its components, including the USB-C port, are modular and can be easily swapped out -- sure, you might not be repairing it yourself, but it's still good to know if you're thinking of getting one. After all, it's not easy getting your hands on what the company's touting as the "2016 flagship killer:" you need an invite code to be able to buy it. And if you're in North America, you won't even be getting your unit anytime soon.
OnePlus is giving away Google Cardboard for $0 plus shipping (update: out of stock)
Well, this is one way for an up-and-coming company to get people's attention. OnePlus, the Chinese manufacturer best-known for making a cheap handset with surprisingly good specs, is about to launch its second-generation phone, and to get folks pumped up, it's selling a modified version of Google's Cardboard virtual reality headset. Make that: "giving away." The headset is free, plus a $5 shipping charge, making it a great deal, even for what's already marketed as a cheap way to experience VR. All told, it's very similar to the second-gen version of Cardboard unveiled at Google I/O a month ago, except this particular iteration is made of a thicker material, is 20 percent smaller and is coated in a dirt- and oil-resistant film, according to TechCrunch.
Experience the OnePlus 2 cellphone launch July 27th in VR
OnePlus has heard your frustration about the drip-feeding of information leading to its next phone, but according to co-founder Carl Pei, it's going to "keep doing things differently." For the OnePlus 2, that means taking advantage of new technology just to announce the thing. On July 27th at 10PM ET, OnePlus new Snapdragon 810-powered cellphone will be revealed with a streaming virtual reality presentation. Just to make sure the fans can tune in, it's working on a free OnePlus Cardboard headset that owners of its first phone (pictured above) can use to watch. Sign up on the website for more info on the headset, and clear your schedule. So far, what we know about the phone is its CPU and that it uses a USB Type-C connector (check after the break for a video of Pei using the phone's charging cable to juice up a Macbook), but you should be able to see the new device in 360-degree surround next month.
OnePlus finally drops invites, but only until its next flagship launches
Now that it's been on the market a full year, you can finally buy a OnePlus One without an invitation. Sound familiar? The company has opened up sales on the well-liked, $300 smartphone for brief periods before, but today said that "the One will be available without an invite. Forever." Calling the reviled invitation system a "fascinating, evolving experiment," the company admitted that "feelings toward (it) vary, and we understand that." In the same breath, however, it revealed that its next model, the OnePlus Two "will initially launch with invites."
Cyanogen OS 12 is here, and the OnePlus One gets it first
Cyanogen and OnePlus aren't as close as they once were, but the wide open Android variant finally has a release-ready version of Lollipop and it's rolling out to the OnePlus One today. Cyanogen OS 12 has all the improvements Google could pack in to the fifth iteration of Android -- you'll need to wait for 12.1 for the 5.1 tweaks -- plus a couple of special additions with app theming, a built-in Gmail replacement and more. If you're not seeing the rolling update on your device yet, the factory image should be available to download here soon. Of course, OnePlus has its own OxygenOS version of Android to offer owners of the devices, so in the space of nine days, anyone carrying a One has gone from no official avenues for installing Android Lollipop to two. Choose wisely.
OnePlus releases OxygenOS, its custom take on Android
After a pretty sizable delay, OnePlus has at last released OxygenOS, its in-house version of Android 5.0 Lollipop. As promised back near the start of the year, this Cyanogen replacement is all about a "back to basics" approach that keeps things stock unless the startup thinks a new feature would be genuinely useful. Right now, that's largely limited to features you already had on your One: you can draw Oppo-style gestures to trigger functions when the screen is off, switch between hardware and software navigation keys and customize your quick-access settings. OxygenOS isn't for the faint of heart at this stage, since you'll have to be comfortable with installing ROMs (and likely put up with early bugs), but it's worth a shot if you want to catch a glimpse of OnePlus' software future.
You can finally buy a OnePlus One with ease
If you've been eyeing the OnePlus One in the months following its debut, but haven't secured an invite to purchase, you're in luck. On Tuesdays, anyone can buy the 16GB Silk White and 64GB Sandstone Black without the previous requirement for 24 hours, starting at 3AM ET (12AM PT, 8AM GMT, 4PM HKT). The so-called flagship killer will set you back $299 (16GB) or $349 (64GB) for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, 13-megapixel camera and Cyanogen's 11S OS that's powered by Android. The company has its own software in the works, though, and it's set to reveal that OxygenOS later this week. Of course, the previous invite system can still be used to shop every other day of the week, but at least now there's some hint of normal sales for the popular handset startup.
OnePlus unveils its own Android build without Cyanogen
Following a temporary ban in India, OnePlus has released its own alpha Lollipop ROM for the One based on stock Android 5.0 -- with no Cyanogen influence. For now, the alpha software is only available as a download, and you'll need to wipe your phone in order to get it. It's also very basic and OnePlus said it includes "no extras beyond the stock features of AOSP Lollipop," though it promised to build on it over time. OnePlus started talking about its own Android fork shortly before Cyanogen inked an exclusive deal with Indian smartphone maker Micromax.
OnePlus gets the all-clear to sell phones in India, for now
OnePlus' plans for world conquest hit a roadblock when Micromax had the company's smartphones banned in India. It's reasoning was that they allegedly infringed on its exclusive right to use Cyanogen's custom Android software. However, it looks like the little phone maker that could is getting a reprieve -- Delhi's High Court has lifted the preliminary injunction that kicked OnePlus out of the country. The bench argues that this early ban wasn't necessary, since neither company really "eats into the the territory of the other." That makes sense: Micromax mostly caters to the low end of the market, while OnePlus is further up the ladder.
The year in reviews: a look back at the best gadgets of 2014
It's been quite a year in products here at the Engadget offices. Not only have we looked at the latest flagship phones and hottest laptops, but our reviews have run the gamut from VR headsets to WiFi Crock-Pots. We've worn lots of smartwatches and fitness wristbands on our arms, tried out an ultra-secure phone and looked at more Chromebooks than we can count. And while we reviewed plenty of average and mediocre devices (and even a few bad ones), there are a handful that emerge at the top of the heap. Some come out as clear winners, while others are good, but don't quite break away from the pack, leaving us with a rather perplexing six-way-tie for seventh place. Thus, we present to you not our top 10, but top 12 highest-scored products of 2014.
Micromax launches the phone that got OnePlus banned in India
Micromax has just revealed the first product from its Yu smartphone collaboration with Cyanogen: the Yureka. Even ahead of its launch, the $142 handset has gained a certain notoriety. Cyanogen declared it would no longer update OnePlus One phones sold in India thanks to an exclusive deal with Micromax, and the Indian government even banned the OnePlus One completely. As for the phone itself? Micromax isn't known for spec-tastic handsets, but the Yureka does have one claim to fame: It's the first 64-bit device officially supported by Cyanogen. Otherwise, the phone is a decent-looking mid-ranger with a 64-bit 1.5Ghz Snapdragon 615 octa-core chip, a 5.5-inch 720p screen, 2GB of RAM and dual 13-megapixel/5-megapixel cameras.
Cyanogen backpedals on promise to update OnePlus phones in India
If you're in India, get ready to be more confused and maybe a bit angry about the OnePlus One situation. Cyanogen recently said that "the OnePlus One will get OTA firmware updates for all global devices, including global devices for our users in India." That was seemingly a denial to OnePlus' claim that it wouldn't get OTA updates there due to Cyanogen's deal with India's MicroMax. However, it turns out that Cyanogen's statement had weasel-wording that only a lawyer could love. It clarified today that OnePlus One smartphones sold in India indeed won't get the update -- only "global devices" purchased abroad. That appears to be the final word: once the Android Lollipop-based ROM is released for the One, no more OTA updates for India buyers until OnePlus builds its own ROM.
Cyanogen says it'll continue support for the OnePlus One in India
Well, it seems like India's OnePlus One users don't have anything to worry about after all. To clear up any misconceptions about the device and CyanogenMod's future in the region, the OS developer took to its blog. Cyanogen's Android ROM will continue to get firmware updates, world-wide, despite the outfit's exclusive partnership with Indian hardware-maker Micromax. As Android Central spotted, the post is pretty explicit about it too, saying: "To clarify misinformation out there, the OnePlus One will get OTA firmware updates for all global devices, including global devices for our users in India." So that's settled. Now, if only it were any easier to actually buy a One in the first place...
OnePlus and Cyanogen on brink of breakup after India fight
Poor OnePlus just can't take a break. Just as the company's busy taking care of its Black Friday promotion, its store opening in Beijing and its India launch with Amazon next week, a close partner decided to drop a hurtful bomb. Cyanogen Inc., the maker of OnePlus One's Android ROM, announced that it's now inked a deal with Micromax to exclusively support the latter's upcoming online brand Yu -- a direct competitor of Xiaomi -- in India. And by "exclusive" we do mean no love for OnePlus, who implies in its latest blog post that Cyanogen knew about its India plan all along, yet it was suddenly shunned to make way for a new partner over there. If true, this is a surprisingly childish move from an up-and-coming company that has no doubt benefitted much from its partnership with OnePlus thus far.
OnePlus' Black Friday deal: you can actually buy the damn phone
OnePlus has just let it be known that you'll finally be able to buy its $299 One phone sans invitation for Black Friday. The "deal" starts today and lasts all weekend, with the 16GB white model up for $299 (€269 in Europe, £229 in the UK) or $349/€299/£269 for the 64GB black model. There are also discounts on other accessories. That marks the first time (other than an hour last month) that folks will be able to buy the now-slightly-dated model without an RSVP. Despite the ridiculous waiting period, though, the 5.5-inch, 1080p device still has plenty of power and charm for its petite price. Hopefully it'll come off invitations for good before the next model comes out.
OnePlus is opening a retail store in China
Still haven't scored an invitation for a OnePlus One, and missed out on the rare public sales? You may want to book a flight to China. OnePlus has revealed its first-ever retail shop, which will officially open in Beijing on December 20th. As you might imagine, the product selection is fairly limited -- it'll offer the One smartphone, of course, but you'll mostly find accessories like cases and headphones. To make up for this, OnePlus is positioning this as an "experience" with a water bar as well as plans for both customer training and get-togethers. More stores are expected to roll out in China, although you shouldn't expect them abroad. OnePlus only just teamed with Amazon to launch Indian online sales, so the company has a long way to go before it can even consider a worldwide retail empire.