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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.
Trusted Voice unlock is rolling out to some Android users
When the latest version of Google's Android app arrived last week, there was a hint that a new method for unlocking a device was on the way. Well, it seems the wait is over... for some. Android Police reports that a handful of folks are seeing the newfangled Trusted Voice feature in the Smart Lock settings menu. The tool allows you to access your device when it recognizes you saying "OK Google," joining Trusted Face, pattern and PIN as options for keeping that trusty handset locked down. Of course, when you select the verbal method, you'll be warned that, like the facial recognition feature, Trusted Voice is less secure than a swipe pattern or numeric PIN. If you're not seeing the option yet, sit tight (no dice on my second-gen Moto X). It appears to be rolling out slowly, so it should hit your device soon enough.
Pre-orders for a 'reversible' Android phone open April 21st (updated)
Wondering when you could get your hands on the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3? You know, the Android smartphone that can take calls upside down? Well, it shouldn't be too much longer. Pre-orders start April 21st with a $249 asking price for the 5.5-inch version (pictured above, left). As Android Central notes, that's a $30 break if you lay money down now as opposed to later on down the road. The official launch date is still rather ambiguous, but a press release over on 9to5Google says that the unlocked Lollipop devices start shipping sometime in May. Update: Slight change of plan: Alcatel OneTouch is now doing a "limited time early pre-sale" ahead of the original April 21st pre-order launch. Better yet, the phone will cost just $199.99 during this period, which translates to a $50 discount.
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.
Your Android phone will soon stay unlocked while you're holding it
If you're frustrated that your smartphone locks while it's still in your hands, Google may soon come to your rescue. A handful of Android Police readers report that their Lollipop-equipped phones' Smart Lock security now includes "on-body detection," a motion-sensitive feature that keeps your Android device unlocked so long as it's either in-hand or in your pocket. This isn't completely secure (a pickpocket could have a field day), but you don't have to worry about someone snooping on your personal info just because you left your handset on the table for a hot minute. Just when you'll get this option isn't certain, though. Google is slowly rolling out body detection to users through Google Play Services, not software updates, so you might not know it's available until you dig through the settings at the right time. Photo by Will Lipman.
Google's Nexus 6 will finally reach Verizon on March 12th
Yes, the rumors were true -- after a months-long wait, Verizon has confirmed that it'll launch the Nexus 6 on March 12th, with stores picking it up on March 19th. The Google-powered phone will still be relatively expensive, at $250 on a two-year contract or $27 per month on Edge, but you will get both HD voice calling (Android 5.1 comes standard) and a free 6-month subscription to Google Play Music All Access for your trouble. Is it worthwhile at this point? That's hard to say. This is still the latest and greatest Android flagship phone, but there's no question that Verizon missed the boat, as it sometimes does. If you wanted a relatively pure Android experience on Big Red, you probably bought a Droid Turbo or Moto X last fall.
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.
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.
Study says Android 4.0 and iOS 8 are most likely to crash your apps
Ever had the feeling that certain phone operating systems are more likely to crash your apps than others? It's not just you. Crittercism has posted its latest breakdown of crash reports from about 20,000 apps, and it's clear that certain operating systems aren't as friendly as others. On Android, Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) is most likely to wreck your day; KitKat (4.4) is close behind, while Lollipop's early reputation for glitches apparently doesn't affect apps. With Apple devices, however, the tables turn. While iOS' app crash rate is lower overall, iOS 8 is a bit more problematic than its predecessor. That's not surprising given that Apple hasn't had as much time to tackle issues in 8, but you may feel better if you're still holding on to 7.
AT&T brings Lollipop to the LG G3 in the US
LG was quick to declare that the G3 would get an Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade back in the fall, but that promise hasn't mattered much if you own a US-edition phone -- you've been stuck on KitKat all winter. You'll be glad to hear that the rollout has finally arrived stateside, though. AT&T is now pushing Lollipop (specifically, 5.0.1) to G3-toting customers when they're on WiFi. As with international updates, most of the improvements involve under-the-hood tweaks like the faster runtime. This isn't a Material Design makeover akin to what you'd see on a Nexus or Moto X, for better or for worse. The other big US carriers also haven't followed suit, but an AT&T release hints that other networks might not be too far behind.
Google's next Lollipop update shows up on an Android One phone
Well, it looks like someone forgot to the cue the fanfare. According to a recent report from Android Police, Android 5.1 is already floating around in the wild, just not where you'd expect. The new build - and its currently mysterious changelog - just made an appearance on a low-cost Android One device meant for sale in Indonesia later this month. To our knowledge, it's the first time Google has publicly acknowledged the existence of the update - all that's really left now is a big Google blog post commemorating the launch and a list of changes the release brings to the table.
Android Lollipop is slowly (very slowly) hitting more devices
Lollipop didn't exactly take the Android world by storm when it first launched. Early adoption was slow enough that it made no real impact in usage share stats for the first couple of months. People are starting to take to Google's latest dessert-flavored OS, however -- it's finally on the official radar. Google's data now shows that about 1.6 percent of active Android users were using Lollipop as of the start of February. That's certainly not a lot, but it's clear that all those Nexuses and early Lollipop upgrades (most notably from HTC, LG and Motorola) count for something.
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.
HTC's Lollipop update won't reach every One phone on time
HTC hasn't always had success upgrading One users to the latest version of Android within its promised 90-day window, and history is unfortunately repeating itself with Android 5.0 Lollipop on the way. The phone maker is now warning that "some carrier versions" of the One M8 and M7 won't get Lollipop by the expected February 1st deadline. Reportedly, Google's rush to fix Lollipop (which emerged, shall we say, less than polished) gave HTC little time to both finish its own update and put it through the usual provider testing routine.
Google's Android launcher lets you pretend you're using Lollipop
So you're still waiting for your Android phone's upgrade to Lollipop, and you don't want to look behind the times when your Nexus-toting friends show up. What to do? As of today, you only need to make sure you're using both the Google Now Launcher and a new version of Google's search app. The update gives you some of Lollipop's Material Design look in the Google search bar, app tray and some animations; previously, the launcher mimicked whatever version of Android you were running. This is largely a cosmetic tweak and won't really make you forget about all the Android 5.0 features you're missing, but it could tide you over for a short while.
Parrot's Android-powered car system also does Apple CarPlay
Parrot's car infotainment systems may not be as well-known as its drones and audio products, but here's one that's worth paying attention to. The yet-to-be-named "RNB6" is a two-DIN unit that comes with a gorgeous 7-inch 720p "IPS Pro" touchscreen, along with a 4 x 55-watt audio amplifier and a wired wide-angle 1080p dash cam (with "Super HDR"). The device runs on a slightly customized version of Android 5.0 that offers media playback, navigation, telephony, dash cam, air control, parking assistance and onboard diagnostics (for tire pressure, parking sensors, air conditioning and more); as well as voice control for some of these features. Depending on the type of phone you plug in, the RNB6 can also toggle Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to let you control your phone via its own touchscreen.
eFun's hybrid tablets offer a choice: Windows 8.1 or Android?
eFun's not one to miss out on CES festivities, and this year, the company is showing off new Windows 8.1 and Android "Nextbook" models. The Windows 8.1 lineup consists of three Quad Core Intel Atom-powered devices with screens measuring 10.1 inches (1,280 x 800 pixels, $229), 11.6 inches (1,366 x 768 pixels, $249) and 12.5 inches (1,366 x 768 pixels, $279). They're all laptop-tablet hybrids, with detachable keyboards sporting a USB connection, 32GB to 64GB internal storage (expandable with microSD) and 2GB of RAM. The 10.1-inch option also comes with something extra, though: a one-year Microsoft Office 365 Personal subscription with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype world minutes per month.
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.
Moto X Pure Edition gets a 64GB option
Motorola trotted out a bloatware-free version of the Moto X (2014) back in September, and now, it's getting a memory boost. The company quietly added the 64GB Pure Edition handset to its Moto Maker site where you're free to fine-tune a design before committing funds. While that tally doubles the max storage space, it's only available on the unlocked model for use on AT&T or T-Mobile, and sets you back $600 off-contract. That's $100 more than the regular Pure Edition. At any rate, folks who've clamored for more memory are finally getting an option, and one that's already rockin' the latest version of Android.
