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Android's Clock will wake you up with tunes from Spotify
Android users' morning ritual might get a bit more musical. A new update to the Google Clock app adds an integration with Spotify so you can wake up with your favorite track or playlist rather than a droning alarm. As TechCrunch points out, this will work with any handset running Android Lollipop and doesn't even require a Spotify Premium account to use. The update begins rolling out this week.
Google Assistant lands on older Android phones
Google Assistant has been available on recent Android phones for a while. However, that still puts it out out of reach of many Android users when a whopping 46.5 percent of active Android users are running a version older than Marshmallow. To help address this, Google is making Assistant available on devices running Android Lollipop. If you're still rocking an older phone, you'll get the same AI helper as a shiny new handset.
AT&T will be the first US carrier to offer Blackberry's Priv
AT&T will begin carrying the Blackberry Priv on November 6th, the company announced on Monday. The phone, which runs Android's Lollipop OS and features a slide-out physical keyboard, will be available that Friday in both AT&T retail outlets and the company's website. Specs for the Priv leaked late last month, though the price listed there has since been corrected to an even $700 if you buy it unlocked.
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.
Google won't force Android encryption by default (update)
Not too long ago, Mountain View was trumpeting that new gadgets with Lollipop would have encryption turned on by default, but, as Ars Technica reports, that isn't the case. The Nexus 6 handset and Nexus 9 tablet offer it, but third-party devices aren't cropping up with the feature turned on out of the box. Specifically? The new Moto E, with Ars saying that Samsung's Galaxy S6 demo units at Mobile World Congress lack it, as well. Update: Google has issued a statement about the change, confirming to us that it is the result of "performance issues" on some hardware. The full statement is included after the break.
Android Lollipop lets you tweak some settings using voice commands
"OK, Google. Turn on WiFi" is something you might want to start practicing out loud if you're among the small percentage of Android users who already have Lollipop on their devices. Android Police has discovered that Google Now on the latest Android release can tweak some of your settings for you with just a voice command. Specifically, it can switch the device's Bluetooth, flashlight and WiFi on or off, whereas it could only bring up the Settings page in the past, leaving you to toggle things yourself. The feature can be really useful at times, especially if your device doesn't come with a built-in flashlight controller or if you need to use your phone while on the road. It seems to be limited to those three for now, and only for Lollipop devices, so you'll still have to work those thumbs to adjust any other setting.
Verizon brings Lollipop to Samsung's Galaxy S5 in the US
The rollout started in Europe already, but Samsung Galaxy S5 owners in the States are about to get a taste of Lollipop -- so long as you're on Verizon. Big Red is ready to update those handsets, and it's the first carrier in the US to offer the latest version of Android on said device. The new version packs in Lollipop's new features and a heavy dose of Material Design, all while still sporting Sammy's latest TouchWiz skin. You likely won't see a notification to install Android 5.0 immediately, as these things usually roll out in stages. However, folks with a Verizon GS5 can rest easy knowing that Lollipop will arrive shortly.
Opera Max can now save Android mobile data in 16 more regions
Over the last few months, Opera's been slowly rolling out Max across the world to save mobile data -- apparently by up to 50 percent, including images and videos -- on Android devices, and its recent collaboration with MediaTek is no doubt a big boost to the service's street cred. But the Norwegian company isn't done yet. While Opera Max is already available to users based in most parts of the Americas, all European Union countries, Russia and others, today Opera added 16 more regions to the list. Just to name a few, these include Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. You can see Opera's full list after the break, and then head to Google's Play Store to grab the Android Lollipop-ready data compression app.
Android 5.0 Lollipop review: Google's biggest mobile update in years
There's something magical about the idea that, in the space of a few minutes, your smartphone or tablet can look dramatically different and do some cool new things, to boot. That's why operating system updates can be oddly exciting, and Android's latest upgrade -- known as version 5.0 or Lollipop -- is the firmware equivalent of opening a stack of presents on your birthday. The upcoming release, which is now available on the Nexus 9 and heading to dozens of mobile devices in the coming months, brings a fresh design and no shortage of new features. Join me as I unwrap Google's latest gift to the wireless community.
Google Nexus 9 review: The first taste of Lollipop is a sweet one
It's been nearly five years since Google released its very first Nexus device, and by now we all basically get what the Nexus name stands for. It's all about building devices to show off the bleeding-edge version of Android, to give us a better sense of Google's vision of our collective mobile future. That future isn't just phones, either: It's about screens of all sizes, and that's why Google and HTC teamed up to build the new Nexus 9. Now that ancestors like the Nexus 7 and 10 have been forcibly shuffled off this mortal coil, the 9 stands alone as the sole tablet in Google's Nexus hardware lineup. So, does it live up to the standard geeks expect from the Nexus name? And more importantly, is it actually worth the asking price?
Google wants to help you leave iOS for Android Lollipop
So, you've taken a look at the new iPhones and iPads and thought to yourself: "Nah, it's time to see if the grass really is greener on the other side." Well, good timing, because Google has published a guide to help you switch from iOS to its newest platform, Android Lollipop. The tech giant has laid it all out for you: its instructions include how to upload photos stored on iPhones and iPads to Google+, transfer music from iTunes to Google Play Music, keep all your contacts and even set up mail and messaging, among others. In short, it's what you need to read if the only thing keeping you from moving platforms is the process itself. If you're ready to switch allegiance, keep an eye out for the Nexus 6 smartphone, the Nexus 9 tablet or the Nexus player, as those will be the first devices to come loaded with Lollipop (though some older devices are also getting it through software upgrades). But in case you're actually having issues switching to iOS instead of from, don't worry: Apple has also published a guide to help you become a bona fide iOS user.
Google's Android 5.0 is called Lollipop
Google has just revealed that the next major version of Android, 5.0, will be known as Lollipop. After months of teasing the OS, the search giant is finally taking what was previously known as Android "L" into the mainstream, with the first set of the devices expected to arrive early next month. Speaking of which, Android Lollipop will make its debut on the new Nexus 6, a big-screen smartphone from Motorola; the Nexus 9, an 8.9-inch tablet made by HTC; and the Nexus Player, a $99 media-streaming box with Android TV, the first one with Google's novel home entertainment platform. What's more, the company confirmed that Lollipop is coming to the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, as well as Google Play edition devices, in the coming weeks.
