androidone
Latest
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's new assistant app helps you use (and fix) your Nexus
So you just snagged a Nexus 6, and you need help navigating Android 5.0 Lollipop or figuring out why your battery life is lousy. Who do you turn to? As of today, you can turn to an app: Google has released Device Assist, a helper tool for Android One, Google Play Edition and Nexus devices. You'll get tips and tricks, like most digital guidebooks, but it'll also offer "proactive" fixes for detected issues; it'll turn down the screen brightness if it's cranked too high, for instance. If you're using a Google Play Edition device or Nexus, you also have a fast track to Google's live support. No, this won't magically repair cracked screens and other broken hardware, but it could spare you from scouring the web (or making a tech support call) to get solutions to software problems.
India's Karbonn comes to the UK with an Android One phone, a wing and a prayer
Karbonn isn't a company the vast majority of Brits will be familiar with. Since it started out five years ago, the Indian smartphone- and tablet-maker has grown to serve over 40 countries; and today, as part of Karbonn's ongoing expansion into Europe, the company has officially arrived in the UK. Bringing with it four handsets ranging in price from £70 to £130, Karbonn's brand message is simple: Bang for your buck. Due, in part, to reasonably priced phones like the Moto G and OnePlus One, consumers are becoming ever more conscious of the value of their devices. This is where Karbonn believes its strengths lie, and that it's going to win over potential customers with its range of affordable products. I do wonder, though, whether there's really enough room in the mobile space for Karbonn to make any kind of name for itself over here.
Google allegedly working on its own WhatsApp competitor
Google introduced its Android One program earlier this year, which focuses on building budget-friendly, solid quality smartphones for the developing world. Back then, the search giant made it pretty clear that, with help from manufacturers, it wanted to create a big splash in emerging markets -- such as India, where the first Android One devices were revealed last month. But a rumor suggests Google's next step is to build what it couldn't buy when it lost out on messaging king WhatsApp to Facebook. The Economic Times, a trusted Indian news outlet, is now claiming the company from Mountain View has started working on a messaging app of its own that will head to emerging markets first, before potentially launching elsewhere.
iPhone 6 review, Microsoft's investment in 'Minecraft' and other stories you might've missed
This week, we reviewed Apple's new large-screened iPhones, investigated Microsoft's investment in Minecraft, whipped up some magical butter, learned about Google's new budget handset initiative called Android One and more. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Engadget Daily: Microsoft buys 'Minecraft' developer Mojang, Google unveils Android One, and more!
The rumors were true: Microsoft is buying Minecraft developer Mojang for $2.5 billion. Crazy, right? That's not all that happened today though. Go ahead and spice up your Monday with Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours. You know you want to.
Google reveals the first low-cost Android One phones
As predicted, Google has just revealed the first Android One phones at an event in India today. Micromax, Karbonn and Spice Mobiles are the companies working with Google at launch, all three launching new handsets this morning. What can we expect from an Android One device? Karbonn, for example, is launching the "Sparkle V Red," (pictured below) which comes with dual SIM slots, a 4.5-inch display (480 x 854), a 5-megapixel primary camera, 1GB of RAM and, importantly, the latest version of Android (KitKat).
Google set to reveal Android One budget phone hardware in India on September 15th
Not everyone is interested in paying for premium handsets, and Google knows that in many parts of the world, shelling out five or six hundred dollars for a One, G3 or Galaxy S5 simply isn't an option. The Android One initiative is how Google plans to bring a better experience to folks buying budget phones by providing OEMs with hardware designs -- and it looks like the program's first fruits will be revealed on September 15th in India. Save the date invites went out today promising only an "exciting new announcement" and more details to come. So, no confirmation of Android One hardware, but given that the initial partners in the program announced at Google I/O are Indian smartphone manufacturers Karbonn and Spice, we fully expect to see some new Googley phones in two weeks. We've reached out to Google for more info, so stay tuned.
