HTC One M7 Lollipop Update: Android 5.0.2 Available Via LiquidSmooth ROM

While Google has yet to release the Android Lollipop for the HTC One M7, users of the smartphone can try out the latest version by installing the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update on their phones thanks to LiqiudSmooth ROM.

The Android Lollipop will hit the HTC One M7 phones next year but thanks to the custom ROM on LiquidSmooth, users can take the new software out for a test run. The ROM is still being developed though and is currently at its first stages so users might experience bugs and problems after installation.

Those who are successful, on the other hand, can expect the Material Design of the Lollipop as well as its distinct features to appear on their phones.

The LiquidSmooth ROM includes ambient display, brightness, clock position, ad blocker, advanced power menu, volume wake, clock and date color, notification light length and speed and more. It also comes with the SuperSu and toggles for the network traffic status bar, immersive mode and quick settings.

However, before even attempting to download the software, users have to remember that sometimes the warranties on phones will be voided when the software is tinkered with. The bugs present in the ROM also mean that it's important to back up the phone first before installing it.

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Man returns stolen Android tablet when he can't work it

Charity begins by stealing things and taking them home.

However if you get home and you can't get the thing you've stolen to work, charity ends with you taking the thing back.

Yes, I am sober. Please let me explain. A man from Sunderland in northern England stole an Android tablet from a charity store, according to court documents. Christopher Hooson apparently saw it in the window of the Jonny Kennedy store in Whitley Bay and thought: "I'll have that."

There was one small problem. When he brought it home he didn't know how to get it to work. It's unclear why this was so. What is clearer is that, eight days later, Hooson took it back to the charity store and showed his deep good-heartedness. He tried to donate the tablet back to the store.

This move was unwise. Even charity stores have CCTV. And so Hooson, age 33, ended up in court to defend himself.

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Android Circuit: Android 5.0.2 Released, Kodak's First Smartphone, Samsung Surrenders Over Services

Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories including Android 5.0.2 for the Nexus 7, iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S5, Kodak’s new Android smartphone, Christmas hints and tips, technology or religion, Samsung closes software services and retail stores, and The Hunt should have launched on Android before iOS.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days (and you can read the weekly Apple news digest here).

Android Lollipop 5.0.2. Now Available For Nexus 7

While Android 5.1 continues to be worked on ahead of an expected Q1 2015 release data, Google has rolled out a minor point version. Android 5.0.2 is starting to become available on the Nexus 7.  IBT has the news, while Android Police has the step-by-step instructions if you want to update your own Nexus 7, as the site has a copy of the relevant files to bump up your version of Android.

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Android 5.0/5.1 Lollipop UK release date, new features and upgrades: Android 5.1 could be here by February

The final version of Android 5.0 Lollipop was unveiled only in October, yet Android 5.1 Lollipop is rumoured to be on its way. Here's what you need to know about Android Lollipop's release date, design and new features - plus when your phone will get the upgrade. Also see Nexus 6 release date, price and specs and Nexus 9 release date, price and specs, Nexus Player release date, price and specs

We've been running Android Lollipop for a few months now, back when it was known only as Android L, and you can see the new features and screenshots here. We've also tested out the increased battery life, but Lollipop is no faster than KitKat

Google launched Android 4.4 KitKat last September and then showed off Android L at its I/O 2014 developer conference before officially announcing its final name and version number on 15 October.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Starts Rolling Out to Moto G (Gen 1) in India

Motorola has started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the first-generationMoto G - aka Moto G (2013), Moto G (XT1033), and Moto G (Gen 1) - in India.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the dual-SIM enabled Moto G (XT1033) is now available OTA (over-the-air) and comes with build number 220.21.16.en.03.

The Moto G (Gen 1) users will either receive a notification for the OTA update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, or they can also check manually for the update by visiting Settings>About phone>System updates. With either method, users will have to then select 'Yes, I'm in', to authorise the download of the update, and then click 'Install now'.

An XDA Developers' forum member also posted a screenshot of the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Moto G (Gen 1), showing the build number and changelog.

Notably, the company has also posted the changelog for the update on 'Release Notes' support page and it includes the new Material Design UI with fluid animations to new application and system themes, colours and widgets, as well as the new notifications UI that will now appear on the lock screen. Other new features part of the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the first generation Moto G include Smart Lock; new interruptions and downtime settings that will offer the option to tailor how interruptions behave; redesigned multitasking; Ambient Display now showing notifications without turning on the full display; revamped Motorola Assist, and the new flashlight option as part of Quick settings in Lollipop.

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Top Android news of the week: Top dog, new Lollipop, two screens

Android tops in smartphones

The Android juggernaut marches on according to figures reported by CNET. Shipments of smartphones with Android are expected to top 1.06 billion this year. This will give Android a whopping 82.3 percent share of the smartphone space.

The forecast from IDC puts iOS in very distant second place with only 13.8 percent of smartphones shipped. IDC sees a slowdown overall for smartphones in the near future.

Lollipop 5.01 released to the AOSP

This week Google released Android 5.01 to the AOSP, making it available to the community-at-large. The AOSP is the Android Open Source Project and is the foundation for those looking to customize the OS.

This should help get Lollipop out to users, as the official version from Google hasn't appeared on many devices other than the company's own Nexus products.

YotaPhone 2: Phone with two big screens

Dual-screen smartphones are nothing new, and the YotaPhone was the first practical design with the second screen on the back of the handset. A new model appeared this week which looks as intriguing as the original.

The 5-inch phone has a 4.7-inch touch display on the back of the handset which is a black and white display. This second display can be used for informational data and is very cool.

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Yes, Android Lollipop for the Galaxy S5 is finally here. No, you can’t have it yet.

Samsung has surprised some Galaxy S5 owners by already rolling out the first official Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the handset (build version LRX21T), SamMobile reports. But the download is that the new software only available to a very limited number of users in one region so far.

FROM EARLIER: Video: This is what Android Lollipop looks like on the Galaxy S5

As the publication notes, Samsung has released its first Lollipop only 31 days after Google released the final Android 5.0 build, a record for the company when it comes to Android update releases for its flagship devices. Samsung did tease Lollipop updates for some of its top handsets, with SamMobile already demoing Android 5.0 pre-release versions for the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4.

The official Galaxy S5 update is only available for the SM-G906F version of the handset at this time, and only to users in Poland, Samsung should roll it out to other European countries in the near future.

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Google quietly pushes out Android Lollipop 5.0.1 images

After a less-than-smooth rollout three weeks after it began to roll out Android Lollipop to users, Google has begun the process of getting Lollipop 5.0.1 out the door.

The Android maker quietly updated its factory images page to reveal a 5.0.1 build for the Nexus 9, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. Installing images from this page does require the flashing of devices in order to update them, and does not carry user data across in the process, unless backed up and restored by the user.

Among the changes in this version is an increase to the amount of memory allocated for video playback on Nexus 7 users, which often manifested itself on YouTube as the now-infamous "There was a problem while playing the video. Touch to retry" error.

Users on the bug have reported that the update has fixed the issue.

Another issue fixed in this release is avoiding accidentally factory resetting a device configured to wipe itself after a number of failed access attempts. Lollipop now does not count password or patterns with less than four elements as attempts to access the device.

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Android 5.0.1 released; fixes inadvertent factory reset bug

It seems like every big software release is quickly followed up by a bug-fix update, and it looks like that's what Google has just pushed out to AOSP and the Nexus image page. Android 5.0.1 is the latest version of Lollipop and is now available for select devices.

On the factory images page, there are downloads for the Wi-Fi Nexus 9, Wi-Fi Nexus 7 (2013), and the Nexus 10, and we're expecting updates for the rest of the Nexus devices soon.

Google hasn't said anything official about the update, but Peter Kiddier, an intrepid commenter over at Android Police, has picked out the new commits from the source code. The major showstopper looks to be this bug, which, in some instances, could cause stray input on the lock screen to erase everything on the device.

The bug sounds rare, since you'll have to set up certain security policies to risk triggering it. Android can be configured to wipe the device if the user fails the lock screen security challenge too many times. When combined with some lock screens, the security lockout could be accidentally triggered by stray input—for instance, from the phone rattling around in a bag or pocket. The most susceptible is the pattern-unlock screen, which has the user connect a grid of dots to unlock the device. This is normally done in a single sweeping motion, but Android 5.0 will count a single tap on the pattern screen as a "failed attempt."

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Android KitKat running on a third of all Android devices

KitKat, which first debuted 31 October, 2013 and made its public appearance on the Nexus 5, hit a usage share of 33.9 percent during the seven-day period ending December 1, beating its nearest rivals Android 4.1 and 4.2 (both codenamed Jelly Bean) which stand at 21.3 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively.

Since Google last released Android usage data back in November, KitKat has grabbed around three percentage points of usage share.

Compare this to iOS 8, which is now running on 60 percent of all iPhone and iPads after only two and a half months. However, even Apple has found it hard to get users to upgrade to iOS 8/8.1.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop Update for Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Install Test Build of the Firmware on the Device [TUTORIAL]

Samsung Electronics is yet to announce Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA update for its Galaxy S5 but the test build of the new software for Sprint variant of the smartphone with model number SM-G900P has been leaked.

Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA update has been rolled out to several devices, including Google Nexus series, HTC One and others, but it is yet to come to Samsung devices - Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4. However, it looks like Samsung is working hard to bring the firmware to its devices, as it has been spotted running on some devices.

Now, the test build of Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Sprint bound Samsung Galaxy S5 has been leaked to XDA developers community by one named Garwynn, who claimed that he had "tested calls, SMS and other functions" but not all of the sensors.

The post comes with a disclaimer that claims the test build of the software is only for Sprint Galaxy S5 and should be run at one's own risk. It added that issues could arrive when the firmware is installed as it is not the official OTA.

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OnePlus accelerates its own tweaked Android OS after Cyanogen inks exclusivity deal with rival in India

OnePlus has announced today that it will be advancing the development of its own tweaked build of Android Lollipop following Cyanogen’s decision to give Micromax exclusive rights to use the OS on its handsets in India.

In a blog post, the company said that the first build of its new OS would be available for Indian users of One handsets to try from sometime next month. As the devices are due to arrive from December 2 though, they will actually arrive running the current Cyanogen Mod OS initially.

“It is truly unfortunate that a commitment we both made to our Indian users will now not be upheld. The One will continue to be supported globally and receive frequent OTAs,” it said. “We can’t explain Cyanogen’s decision because we don’t fully understand it ourselves.”

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Five Android 5.0 Lollipop annoyances Google should fix immediately

The 5.0 release of Android, dubbed Lollipop, is the biggest thing to happen to Android in years—possibly ever. The design and features have been revamped, and attention to detail is evident throughout. However, even our beloved Google is not perfect, and that means there are some bugs and just plain odd decisions in Android 5.0. Let's check out five of the most annoying little quirks in Lollipop and see how they might be fixed.

The Power Menu

In Android 4.4 and earlier, the menu you got when holding the power menu had a few options including toggling airplane mode, ringer modes, and of course, turning the device off. Some manufacturers even added reboot commands and additional settings. In Android 5.0 Google has gone backward and this menu now only includes "Power Off."

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Android Circuit: Samsung Switches To Tizen, Nokia's Android Tablet, Lollipop Update Problems

Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories including the return of Nokia to the consumer market with an Android tablet and launcher, Google aims Play at China, running Lollipop on a Nexus 7, the good and bad points of the Nexus 6, and how the iPhone will boost Samsung’s income.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android over the last seven day (and you can read the weekly Apple news digest here).

Nokia Returns To The Consumer Market With An Android Tablet

Probably the biggest news in the mobile world this belonged to Nokia. Following the sale of its devices and services section to Microsoft, the Finnish company was left with three major departments (Mapping, Networking, and R&D). Which made the reveal of an Android powered tablet at this week’s Slush Conference all the more surprising.

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Complex Android malware believed to have infected up to 4.5M smartphones in the U.S.

As many as 4.5 million American Android smartphone users may have been fooled into somehow downloading a complex malicious program on their devices since January 2013, The New Yok Times reports, citing security company Lookout.

Called “NotCompatible,” the malware has reached its third version, which is even more sophisticated than predecessors — Lookout said about it that it “has set a new bar for mobile malware sophistication and operational complexity.”

In order to ultimately infect smartphones, hackers have used various techniques, such as infecting legitimate sites with malicious code that’s automatically downloaded when a user visits that site from an Android phone, or by sending spam messages that offer fake security patches or weight loss solutions.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop SMS Bug Affecting Some Nexus Phone Users

Another day and another Android 5.0 Lollipop bug. This time multiple users running the latest Android build on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 handsets are reporting a bug that is preventing them from sending SMS messages.

Notably, Google has now confirmed to a Dutch site (via Myce) that the SMS bug is also affecting the new Nexus 6 while a user has claimed that the new Moto X is also having problems with sending texts. The bug however is only reported to be affecting users on select carriers - Vodafone Netherlands, Vodafone India, and Mobistar (Belgium).

Reporting the bug on the Android Issue Tracker titled "Cannot send SMS Vodafone NL", Android 5.0 Lollipop users are claiming that the messages sent from an affected device never reach the recipient; though devices that are said to be affected by the bug can still receive messages.

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Android Auto is great, but automakers are holding it back

At the LA Auto Show this week, I spent time with a recent pre-release build of Android Auto using a Nexus 5 connected to a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. It's mostly the same as the version we were shown at Google I/O in June, apart from some minor refinements. For instance, the green, circular "a" logo that appears on the phone when it's jacked into the car now reads "Android Auto," and voice-based searches no longer cause a full-screen "listening" window to pop up — you just get a little pulsing "g" in the corner. The underlying concept, though, is unchanged: it's Material Design-infused Android for your dashboard, boiled down to the basics with copious use of speech output and voice recognition so that driver distraction is kept to a bare minimum. You're also locked out of using your actual phone when Android Auto is in use, another stab at limiting distraction by keeping eyes off screens and on the road.

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Galaxy S2 I9100 and Note N7000 Finally Taste Android 5.0 Lollipop via XDA Developers Custom ROMs

Galaxy S2 I9100 and Note N7000 users are in for a big surprise, as the industrious Android custom ROM developers have stepped up to the occasion with the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop ROMs for these devices.

Galaxy S2 I9100

The LollipopS2 team has unleashed the CodeRom Lollipop update, which is currently in its beta stage as developers are working hard to create a fully functional Lollipop custom ROM for the ageing Galaxy S2 I9100.

The CodeRom is currently capable of running the boot animation for Android 5.0 Lolliop, but no further than that.

CodeRom has been reportedly ported via AT&T AOSP ROM, which is also in beta development stage, and hence the LollipopS2 team has invited the Android community to help them in compiling the ROM and getting it to the final working state with all apps and UI in place.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Rolling Out to Google Nexus 5, Moto X (Gen 2), Moto G (Gen 2), and Others

Google on Wednesday, as expected, announced the Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA update for older Nexus devices (namely, the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013), andNexus 10). Following Google closely, Motorola also officially announced the OTA rollout of the latest Android update for its second-generation Moto G and Moto Xsmartphones.

The search engine giant in a tweet confirmed the rollout; though the company has still has not revealed an exact time frame for the availability and says, "Will soon be available on most Nexus devices."

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16 Essential Tips And Tricks for Android 5.0 Lollipop

If you’re preparing yourself for your Android Lollipop update, or you’re just getting to grips with the OS on your new tablet or smartphone, there might be a few things you’re still unsure about. The new Google OS has a host of new features that add to, and improve, previous versions – but they might not be immediately obvious So to help you along, I’ve rounded up the best tips and tricks for Android 5.0 Lollipop. Here are my top 16 tips and tricks.

Turn off lock-screen notifications

Android Lollipop helpfully now gives you notifications on your lock screen – you can even action them without unlocking the device. But notifications flashing up on the home screen does present a privacy issue, because not everyone wants their personal texts and emails visible to whoever wakes the device. To turn this off, go to Settings > Sound & Notification > When Device is Locked and select “don’t show notifications at all”.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA Update Starts Rolling Out to Moto G (Gen 2): Report

Motorola has reportedly started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the unlocked version of the Moto G (Gen 2).

Ars Technica reports the update has started rolling out to some unlocked devices in the US, and is 386.7MB in size. 

With the reported rollout, the smartphone becomes the first device to receive the update, and in fact, is ahead of Google's own Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013), andNexus 10 devices.

The Lenovo-owned company has also posted the changelog for the update. Motorolasays users will either receive a notification for the OTA update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, and that users can also check manually for the update by visiting Settings>About phone>System updates. With either method, users will have to then select 'Yes, I'm in', to authorise the download of the update, and then click 'Install now'.

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Android 5.0 Lollipop: When can I download it for my device?

Google launched its latest mobile operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, alongside the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 this month.

The code for the software has already been distributed to the likes of Samsung, Sony and HTC, so it could soon be winging its way to a smart device near you.

With this in mind, we have brought you everything we know so far about Android 5.0's rollout schedule.

Older Nexus devices

Google's own-brand Nexus devices are always among the first to receive the latest software updates, and the web giant has confirmed that the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be given a lick of Lollipop "within weeks".

However, the rollout to the Nexus 5 is believed to be behind schedule due to a bug that is causing rapid battery drain on the previous-generation handset.

Google discovered the bug in a developer preview build of Android 5.0, but is yet to officially confirm that it is behind the apparent delays or offer a more specific launch date for the upgrade.

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Android Circuit: Galaxy S6 Details, Lollipop's Slow Rollout, Nokia's Android Ambitions

Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories including the Samsung Galaxy S6 leak, reviews of the Nexus 9, will Nokia return with an Android handset, Android Lollipop is available (and needs a bug fix for the power used), the Droid Turbo examined, Xiaomi’s profits, and looking like an iPhone.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android over the last seven day (and you can read the weekly Apple news digest here).

Details On The Samsung Galaxy S6 Escape

As sure as night follows day, Samsung is working on the next numerical Galaxy S model. The Galaxy S6 is expected to be announced during Q1 of 2015 (potentially around the time of the 2015 Mobile World Congress) with availability very early in Q2 2015. Gordon Kelly looks at the details starting to come out on Samsung’s potential new flagship:

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Android 5.0 Lollipop Rollout Delayed - This Bug Might Be the Reason

Multiple Nexus 5 owners running the latest Developer Preview version of Android 5.0 Lollipop have reported a battery draining bug while on Wi-Fi, and this is thought to be the reason for the delayed roll-out of the Lollipop factory images and OTA updates for older Nexus devices.

Reporting the bug on the Android-Developer Preview site, Nexus 5 users say the battery level drops steadily when Wi-Fi is switched on.

Notably, the Android 5.0 Lollipop global roll-out was delayed till November 12 due to some 'outstanding bugs', a report suggested on Wednesday. The Nexus 5's battery drain Wi-Fi bug could be the reported 'outstanding bug' that caused the roll-out of the latest version to be delayed.

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Top Android news of the week: Motorola is Lenovo, hot Nexus 6, Android in McDonald's

Lenovo closes the deal to buy Motorola from Google

Lenovo has absorbed Motorola with the closing of its $2.91bn purchase from Google of the Android phone maker. In a statement from the president of Motorola, the company will continue operations from its HQ in Chicago, and operate as a subsidiary of Lenovo.

Google retains ownership of Motorola's vast portfolio of patents, which are licensed to Lenovo as part of the deal.

Nexus 6 sells out in minutes

The latest flagship phone from Google went on sale this week and sold out of existing inventory in just a few minutes. While no details were given on how many phones that involved, it's still impressive that the Nexus 6 sold out so quickly.

It's important to note that the sell-out was of the $649 unlocked version sold by Google, and not carrier-subsidized versions of the phone.

The Nexus 6 is made for Google by Motorola, making it the first Lenovo Nexus phone due to the acquisition of Motorola by Lenovo.

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20 best Android apps and games this week

It’s time for our latest roundup of the latest, greatest Android apps and games, this time from the last two weeks’ worth of releases on the Google Play store.

As ever, the prices provided in brackets are for the initial download only: when an app uses in-app purchases, this will be listed as (Free + IAP). Something to look for: a new section of each app’s Google Play store listing, which explains the full range of IAP.

More interested in iOS apps? They’re covered in a separate weekly Best iPhone and iPad Apps roundup, with the latest instalment due to be published later today.

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Microsoft Band is a $199 fitness tracker, works with Windows, Android, iOS

Microsoft’s first wearable device is a fitness tracker called the Microsoft Band. It’s a wristband with activity-tracking sensors, a display for notifications, and support for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone apps.

The $199 Microsoft Band is part of a new platform called Microsoft Health which is basically the company’s answer to Apple’s HealthKit and Google’s Fit.

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Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V, Spice Dream Uno Review: Android the One for Me?

Google unveiled the Android One initiative at its annual developers conference in June with Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice confirmed as the launch partners. Under the programme, manufacturers benefit from lower cost of development, by sharing integration and testing resources with Google. Android One customers are promised regular software updates, so this sounds like a win-win, at least on paper.

Last month, the three Indian companies, along with Google, unveiled the Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V, and Spice Dream Uno boasting identical specifications. So how do these smartphones perform in the real world? Let's find out.

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Unwrapping Lollipop: Ars talks to Android execs about the upcoming OS

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—In just a few weeks, Google will be pushing out one of its largest Android releases ever: Android 5.0, Lollipop. The update changes nearly every aspect of the OS—a new design for every app, a new runtime, lots of new features, and a focus on battery life. The company is also launching a pair of new Nexus flagships, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 aiming for a more premium market, and the first Android TV device, the Nexus Player. Together with the release of Google Inbox and a new Wear update, we're in the middle of a very busy few weeks.

We sat down with a few high-ranking members of the Android Team to get a better idea of what this new wave of Android devices will bring. At building 43 at Google's headquarters, Dave Burke, the VP of Engineering for the Android platform and Nexus devices; Brian Rakowski, VP of Product Management, and Gabe Cohen, the team's Group Product Manager, were all gracious enough to talk to us about the future direction of Android.

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