The best android phones to buy

One of the best things about Android is the seemingly endless possibilities when it comes to choice.
Tons of manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, and HTC release several new Android phones each year, resulting in an extremely diverse selection of phones in all different shapes and sizes.

But having so many options can also make it difficult to find the phone that perfectly suits your needs.

Some factors such as design and screen quality can be subjective, but of all the offerings available today HTC's new One M8 is the best Android phone you can buy.

It costs $199 on a two-year contract with AT&T and Sprint, and Verizon is offering the phone for $99 on contract. You can pay $24.40 per month through T-Mobile, or purchase the phone from any carrier contract-free for $650.

The Best Android Phone
When HTC unveiled the first One back in 2013, critics raved about the device. It was the first Android phone that could actually rival the iPhone in terms of build quality. HTC's One phone is made of a sleek aluminum that gives it a sturdy yet premium feel, compared to phones from Samsung and LG that are either made of plastic, polycarbonate, or faux leather.

HTC has maintained that same build quality with its new One, too. Not only is the design polished and attractive, but the phone offers some of the best audio and visual experiences you'll find on a mobile device. HTC's BoomSound speakers are still unrivaled - the sound is richer, louder, and cleaner than any of its competitors.

htc one m8 home screen
Steve Kovach/Business Insider


The HTC One M8 doesn't have the best smartphone screen (that title goes to Samsung's Galaxy Note 4), but it's pretty good. The screen has a 1080p resolution just like the Galaxy S5, and even though other phones such as the LG G3 have displays with higher resolution, there isn't much of a noticeable difference in everyday usage.

Although the screens on Samsung's phones tend to make colors appear more boldly, the display on HTC's One is crisp, clear, and large enough to make it suitable for reading, streaming Netflix, and playing games. Colors sometimes appear more realistic on the HTC One's phone compared to Samsung's since colors aren't exaggerated, but that may be a matter of personal taste.

The One M8 also lasts fairly long on a single charge, too. I was able to get a full day out of it when I tested the phone, and battery tests from CNET, Engadget, and Ars Technica appear to match my results. It's not the same level of battery life you'd get from bigger phones with larger batteries (like the Note 4 or Nexus 6), but it's more than enough to get you through the day.

htc one camera modes
Steve Kovach/Business Insider

The One M8 comes with a ton of new camera features, too. Some of them are gimmicky tricks that you can achieve through third-party apps, but the new re-focusing feature was really fun to play with. In terms of image quality, the One M8 holds up pretty well. I've noticed that it sometimes makes images taken in bright sunlit conditions appear too light, but it takes better photos in low-light environments than the Galaxy S5 and second-gen Moto X.

One of the most important factors, however, is that HTC's Sense software is a bit less busy and easier to use than the skin Samsung uses on its Android phones. There's a basic app grid, easily accessible quick settings, and a Flipboard-style news homepage HTC calls Blinkfeed. In my experience, there doesn't seem to be much bloatware from HTC either, which is always appreciated.

HTC is also very consistent when it comes to software updates. In the past, it's ensured that most of its phones, whether it's the company's newest flagship or not, get the latest Android updates. Competitors such as Samsung and LG aren't as consistent and reliable about this as HTC. The company also makes sure it's own software features roll out to all of its devices too. For example, HTC recently announced that the new camera features introduced with its Desire Eye phone will also be available for the One M7 and M8.

In short, the HTC One M8 is a gorgeous phone with a nice screen, easy-to-use software, a great camera, and long battery life. It's definitely worth a look if you're in the market for a new Android phone.

The Runner Up
MotoXFront.JPG
Business Insider/ Lisa Eadicicco

Motorola's second-generation Moto X is also an excellent option if you're shopping for a new Android phone. It's also cheaper than the HTC One M8: AT&T is selling it for $119 on contract, and Verizon offers it for $99 with a contract. You can also buy it for $500 contract-free.

It comes with a near pure version of Android, which means you won't have to deal with any bloatware or skins over Google's stock edition of Android. The Moto X's soft touch back and metal edges also make for an excellent build quality, although I still prefer the HTC One's all-metal design.

Ultimately, the decision here came down to the Moto X's camera. It takes fine images in brightly lit conditions, but its low light camera was poor. It was a tough call (and I should reiterate that the new Moto X is still one of my favorite Android phones of the year), but the HTC One's superior camera gave it an advantage over Motorola's phone.

Want Something Bigger?
samsung galaxy note 4
Business Insider

Get the Note 4 (if you're sticking with Android, that is). It costs $299.99 on contract, or $700 contract-free.

It has the best screen I've ever seen on a phone. And Samsung really knows how to make good use of the Note 4's large screen. The battery life and camera are both superb, too.

Samsung has improved on its Note phablet every year since the original one launched in 2011, and this is no exception. Although the screen size is the same as last year's model, Samsung's new phone is a bit slimmer and comes with metal edges that make it feel classier than its predecessor.

How We Decided
We evaluated the best Android phones we've reviewed based on design, screen quality, their cameras, how easy their software was to use, and battery life. While the HTC One M8 wasn't the absolute best in all of those categories, it ranked pretty highly in all areas and was the most consistent across the board.

Which phone will get the android 5.0 lollipop update and when

Google

Nexus 4 - November 12th - all thing Nexus 4 Android 5.0 update related
Nexus 5 - November 12th - all things Nexus 5 Android 5.0 update related
Nexus 6 - Android Lollipop out of the box
Nexus 7 (2013) - November 12th
Nexus 7 - November 12th - all things Nexus 7 Android 5.0 update related
Nexus 9 - Android Lollipop out of the box



Motorola

Moto E - Confirmed by Motorola, expected very soon (by end of 2014)
Moto G - Confirmed by Motorola, expected very soon (by end of 2014)
Moto G LTE edition - Confirmed by Motorola, expected very soon (by end of 2014)
Moto X - Confirmed by Motorola, expected very soon (by end of 2014)
Moto G (2014) - Available now - all things Moto G (2014) Android 5.0 update related
Moto X (2014) - Available now - all things Moto X (2014) Android 5.0 update related
Droid Turbo - Confirmed by Motorola, expected very soon (by end of 2014)



HTC

HTC One - within 90 days of receiving the Android Lollipop source code (which happened November 3rd)
HTC One M8 - as above (by February 3rd, 2015) - all things HTC One (M8) Android 5.0 update related
HTC One mini - promised for update, no hard schedule
HTC One mini 2 - promised for update, no hard schedule
HTC One Max - promised for update, no hard schedule
HTC One GPE - pending, but likely to be very soon
HTC One M8 GPE - pending, but likely to be very soon



Samsung

Galaxy S4 GPE - pending, expected very soon
Galaxy Note 4
Galaxy Note Edge
Galaxy S5 - by the end of December 2014 - all things Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 update related
Galaxy S5 Mini
Galaxy Alpha
Galaxy S4 - by the end of December 2014 - all things Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 update related
Galaxy Note 3
Galaxy TabPRO 8.4
Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1
Galaxy Tab 12.2 Pro
Galaxy Tab S 8.4
Galaxy Tab S 10.5



LG

LG G Pad 8.3 GPE - pending, expected very soon
LG G3 - Available now (for international models) - all things LG G3 Android 5.0 update related
LG G3 Stylus
LG G2
LG G Pad 8.3
LG G2 Mini
LG G Flex


Sony

Xperia Z Ultra GPE - pending, expected very soon
Xperia Z3 - ''beginning of 2015''
Xperia Z3 Compact - ''beginning of 2015''
Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - ''beginning of 2015''
Xperia Z Ultra
Xperia Z1
Xperia Z2 - ''beginning of 2015''
Xperia Z2 Tablet - ''beginning of 2015''
Xperia ZL
Xperia ZR
Xperia Z1S
Xperia Z3v



Asus

ZenFone4 - April 2015
ZenFone5 - April 2015
ZenFone6 - April 2015
ZenFone 5 LTE - April 2015
PadfoneS - April 2015
The new PadFone Infinity - April 2015

Google Android L 5.0 Lollipop images for Nexus 4 is now available

Turn those frowns upside-down, Nexus 4 stalwarts. Your beloved Nexus of yesteryear is finally getting that sweet, sweet Lollipop goodness in an official capacity, just as we expected. Google has posted the full system image that takes the Nexus 4 all the way to Android 5.0.
The image comes with build number LRX21T, which dates from October 21st like many of the other images. The 471MB download will include everything you need to get Android 5.0 flashed to your device. You don't even necessarily have to wipe userdata, but it's probably best.
We've got full instructions for flashing system images here, but there have been a few hiccups with fastboot choking on the update command. If you get any errors, hit up our post on the manual flashing procedure. Good luck!

Android 5.0 Lollipop for Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to receive in December

Samsung Galaxy S5 owners will be able to take advantage of all the new features in Android L this December, according to a report over on SamMobile. The same publication took a look at Android L running on the Galaxy S 5 earlier this month, which provided an insight into how the next version of the OS will look on Samsung's flagship.

While sources have confirmed with SamMobile that the Galaxy S5 will be receiving Android L in December, an accurate time frame wasn't provided. It's also worth noting that this is when the rollout is expected to commence, so it could take some time for all regions to receive the update.

Nexus 6 Reviewed, LG G Is The Best Android Wear Watch, Loving Lollipop

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 reviews of the Nexus 6, why the LG G is the best Android Wear device, poor sales of Android One, the best and worst moments of Lollipop,  duplicate apps from Google, Lenovo’s slowing sales, leaks of the new Moto G 2014 edition, and the improved battery save mode.

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).

Nexus 6 Under The Reviewer’s Microscope

The big news this week is the Nexus 6. Forbes’ Gordon Kelly has taken a closer look at the handset, which is more (much more) than a Moto X that’s been asked to go large:

‘Size’. It might as well be the first word in this review, because this is the topic which is going to dominate every conversation, every editorial and every review you read about the 6-inch Nexus 6. It is impossible to escape and it is either bold or boneheaded because this phablet polarises opinion.

The questions are rolling through your head as you read this: Has Google gone too far? Are the specifications worth the sacrifice? Is it better than the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy Note 4?

You can read the full review of the Nexus 6 here.

Meanwhile, the compromises required of any smartphone are much more pronounced on the Nexus 6. I’ve taken a look at the various reviews online of the Google’s phablet to show that even the reviewers can’t decide if certain features are strengths or weaknesses.

More than any other recent handset, it needs careful consideration. From the size of the handset and the unbalanced use of the OS, to the large battery on a power-hungry platform lacking high-quality imaging, the Nexus 6 is one of the most compromised phablets of this generation of smart devices. Developers are going to flock to it, but they will need to be aware that the Nexus 6 is the reference design for the phablet generation of devices, and not every smartphone device on the market.

A Wearable And Desirable Smartwatch From LG

Speaking of reviews, Ian Morris has taken a closer look at one of the more traditional looking smartwatches on the market, the circular-faced LG G. The Moto 360 might have picked up critical acclaim, but Morris believes this watch to be the best of the current generation:

Honestly, there’s no point dragging you kicking and screaming through a wordy review if you just want to know what I think about the watch. The specifics are below, and plenty of detail, but let me just tell you the highlights.

I really like the LG G Watch R.

For me, the design is just right. It’s the right size for my wrist, it’s not too heavy – I have an Omega Seamaster so weight is something I’m used to – and I really like the design. Initially, the print around the edge worried me. I thought it would look silly, but in fact it pairs incredibly well with digital watch faces. When the watch is on, and showing the face, it looks great.


Has The Indian Skirmish Over Android One Reached The Wildife?

Google has skipped over China (leaving it many of the other Android manufactures who do not licence Google’s flavour of Android) and is making a big play with Android One in India. Unfortunately that strategy doesn’t seem to be playing out. The low-cost reference designs are currently used by Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice. A second batch of handsets will be announced in December to boost the line-up that sold just 200,000 handsets (reports Danish Khan for The Times of India):

Import data for October showed Google’s Android One partners together imported just over 2 lakh devices in the first full month of sales. This was less than the nearly 2.3 lakh handsets imported for the 15 days of September, data from market research firm Cybex Exim Solutions, available exclusively with ET, showed. The devices were launched in mid-September. IDC analyst Karan Thakkar and Counterpoint Research Analyst Tarun Pathak said initial sales have been hurt by intense competition as well as the fact that Android One devices were initially only available online, which still has limited penetration in India. The strategy was flawed, especially for a device targeted at a large segment of the population unlikely to have access to the internet.

Brickbats And Bouquets For Lollipop

As the tech world gets to grips with Android 5.0 Lollipop, Gordon Kelly has taken a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of the update to Google’s operating system. He starts with the Material design elements:

It feels wonderfully intuitive in use and enables even someone using Android for the first time to be quickly and confidently navigating the OS in minutes. With Material Design Google has moved the game on. Never again should an interface design only be superficial.

Google the design king? It would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

Because Google has thought beyond how its user interface should look and extended it to how it should interact. Every button press, animation and UI layer is given physical properties so navigation is not only consistent but educational because you can see the point of origin of any action and follow the transition to the next step.

The balanced look at the OS can be found here on Forbes.


Is This The App You Were Looking For?

Samuel Gibbs (over on The Guardian) takes Google to task for the number of duplicate applications in the standard software load out that many consumers received. Why does Google need three different calendar apps?

Google started its text messaging with the Messaging app, which came built in to every Android device. Then there was Google Voice, which offered US customers one universal phone number to use across multiple devices, for both calls and texts. Later came Google Chat, a mobile extension of Google’s instant messaging app from Gmail, which morphed into Hangouts… At the same time all Android smartphones also had at least one other text messaging app baked into the operating system, creating duplication that couldn’t be removed.

Android’s ability to choose which messaging apps you use even for core functions is great, but Google’s app duplication simply confuses and that’s before third-party apps are installed

Now Google has yet another text messaging app, meaning users of Android phones made by Samsung, Sony, HTC and LG could have not one, not two, but three apps installed that can send and receive text messages. And that’s before anything like Facebook Messenger or third-party text-messaging apps are installed.

With multiple apps all able to send text messages installed it causes confusion: which one do users use? Should you disable some? What happens if a text message opens in one? Do they sync across to the others?

Lenovo Falling As China Rises

Lenovo, the new owners of Motorola Mobility, has seen its share price drop on the Hong Kong markets. Accompanied by six percent decline in smartphone sales (which will likely be reversed with sales of the Moto X, Moto G, and Moto E during the current quarter to be taken into account). Forbes’ Russell Flannery.

Lenovo’s shares fell 4.8% on Friday to HK$10.26, their lowest close since June 24. That follows a drop of 5.1% on Thursday.

The rise of the Chinese manufactures is having a noticeable impact on the smartphone market. Xiaomi is the most recognisable name to Western readers, but that company is not alone.

Globally, the rise of relatively little-known brands – notably from China — is also squeezing Apple and Samsung, whose combined global market share in the quarter fell an eye-popping 10 percentage points in the three months to September to 38% from 48% a year ago, according to sales tracker Canalys. China, home to the world’s largest number of mobile phone and Internet users, today accounts for six of the world’s top 10 smartphone brands, Canalys said.

Moto G Second Edition With 4G Could Be On Its Way

Speaking of Lenovo’s Moto handsets, the ever popular Moto G handset could be due for a minor update. The second edition, announced in September this year, is one of the most accessible handsets available (I went so far asto call it this year’s number one handset). The appearance of a handset identified as ‘Motorola TBD’ on Geekbench points to a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 variant, with 4G LTE capability.

Specifically this TBD handset has a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor and 1 GB of RAM. Between them these give a Geekbench score of 148, marginally higher than the first generation Moto G which clocks in with a score of  1142. It’s also worth nothing that the Snapdragon 410 is a 64-bit system.

In terms of operating system, the handset reports Android 4.4.4, although the expectation would be for the handset to ship, or to be upgraded over the air to Android 5.0 (Lollipop) after launch.

And Finally…

CNet has highlighted the new ‘Battery Saver‘ feature in Android Lollipop. Activated from either the settings menu, or from the battery status in the notifications area, Google suggest that this mode (which limits background data, connectivity, and restricts the hardware from going all-out to achieve ultimate performance) will give you ninety more minutes of battery life. It can be set to come on automatically with 15% of battery life remaining, and will deactivate when you plug in to the mains.

It’s nice to see the standard Windows Phones ‘Battery Saver’ principle arrive in Android after all these years.

‘Android Circuit’ will round-up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch

HTC plans to release Android L 5.0 Lollipop to htc Google Play edition devices

HTC's Mo Versi indicated on Twitter that the vendor is targeting Lollipop rollout to GPe devices from next week. Versi, however, failed to mention whether the One M8 or last year's One M7 would receive the update first.



It is possible that both devices would be updated to the latest version of Android. Either way, we'll know next week. Interested in what's new with Android 5.0 Lollipop? Check out our review for all the answers.

Source: Twitter (Mo Versi)

Finally android L 5.0 is out for Moto G (2014 2nd Gen.)

The second-generation 2014 Moto G becomes the first phone to receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware update, a report said Wednesday, adding that Google’s latest flagship devices, such as Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, have lagged behind the device in getting a final version of the update.

According to Ars Technica, the unlocked U.S. version of the $179 second-generation Moto G has begun receiving a 386.7MB Android 5.0 Lollipop over-the-air update, while other handsets, such as the second-generation Moto X and the LG G3, are also nearing a similar update.

“We are excited to announce a new software update for Moto G (2nd Generation) by Motorola. This update brings Android 5.0 Lollipop to your phone along with other improvements,” according to the official release notes for the Moto G’s Lollipop update.

The release notes highlight features that are expected to be included in all Moto and Nexus phones set to get the Lollipop update. Some of the key features and improvements include the new “Material Design” user interface, lock screen notifications and the “Project Volta” battery life enhancements.

Here are some of the significant changes, as listed out by Motorola, which will be visible in the device after installing the software update.

According to the Ars Technica report, the Lollipop update appears to be rolling out to the larger, second-generation Moto G, while there are no updates available for the first-generation model of the device. The report also suggested that other Moto handsets and new Nexus devices could get the firmware update in coming days.

Some earlier reports had suggested that the Moto X (2014) would receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop update before any other device, and that the first Moto X model to receive Android L would be Motorola’s unlocked “Pure Edition.”

LG Electronics announced last week that it would begin updating its G3 handsets with the new Android 5.0 Lollipop in Poland this week, while users in other markets should expect the update to arrive in coming months.

Some reports also said that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to receive the Lollipop update by early next year, with the Exynos variant of the handset (GT-I9500) likely to become the first model to receive the update.

Microsoft appeals Samsung over Android patent fees

Microsoft said the South Korean firm failed to pay it on schedule for the use of its inventions and has begun legal action in New York.
In a blog, the US firm said Samsung had used Microsoft's takeover of Nokia's handset unit "as an excuse to breach its contract".
Samsung has said: "We will review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response."
The case marks the first time that Microsoft has launched legal action against Samsung.
The two companies have a long-running partnership, due to the Asian manufacturer's sale of Windows PCs and Windows Phone handsets.
Nokia deal Although Microsoft is best known for its own Windows operating system, it also claims ownership to hundreds of patents relating to Google's Android OS.
It has pursued many Android device-makers for related licence fees and to date has struck deals with more than 25 companies, including HTC, Acer, ZTE and Nikon.
Samsung agreed to Microsoft's demands in September 2011 and made its first year's payment the following year.

 The dispute appears to have been prompted by Microsoft's Nokia acquisition

But a censored copy of court papers filed by Microsoft's lawyer, and posted online by news site Geekwire, indicate that Samsung blocked a second payment after learning of the Nokia deal in September 2013.
Although the documents state that Samsung later paid the fee in November 2013, Microsoft claims it is still owed money to cover the interest on the sum over the period it was not paid.
In addition the US company is unhappy that Samsung is reserving the right not to make future payments.
It also complains that Samsung has asked the Korean competition authorities to intervene to eliminate the need for future fees - a matter that Microsoft says would be outside the regulators' authority.
Furthermore, the papers suggest Samsung has threatened Microsoft with its own patent infringement claims relating to the Nokia takeover.
"Microsoft values and respects our partnership with Samsung and expects it to continue. We are simply asking the court to settle our disagreement, and we are confident the contract will be enforced," wrote David Howard, deputy general counsel for Microsoft, on the firm's blog.
Samsung declined to discuss any of the specific claims.
Microsoft has never disclosed how much it makes from its Android patents, but analysts have estimated the figure is between $1bn (£595m) to $2bn a year.
One company watcher said Microsoft would be keen to avoid a precedent that other firms might try to make use of to cancel their own payments.
"The fear would be that this case could develop into a revenue stream leakage that would be difficult to tap," said Windsor Holden, research director at Juniper Research.

Fake ID bug exposes Android smartphones and tablets

An Android flaw has been uncovered that lets malware insert malicious code into other apps, gain access to the user's credit card data and take control of the device's settings.

Blue-box Labs said it was particularly concerning as phone and tablet owners did not need to grant the malware special permissions for it to act.
The company added it had alerted Google to the problem in advance to allow it to mend its operating system.
Google confirmed it had created a fix.
"We appreciate Blue-box responsibly reporting this vulnerability to us. Third-party research is one of the ways Android is made stronger for users," said a spokeswoman.
"After receiving word of this vulnerability, we quickly issued a patch that was distributed to Android partners, as well as to the Android Open Source Project."
However, the many thousands of devices still running versions of the operating system ranging from Android 2.1 to Android 4.3 have not been sent the fix by relevant network operators and manufacturers remain vulnerable if they download apps from outside the Google Play store.
Forged signatures Blue-box has dubbed the vulnerability Fake ID, because it exploits a problem with the way Android handles the digital IDs - known as certification signatures - used to verify that certain apps are what they appear to be.

Blue-box warns that old unpatched versions of Android remain vulnerable

The issue is that while Android checks an app has the right ID before granting it special privileges, it fails to double-check that the certification signature involved was properly issued and not forged.
Jeff Forristal, chief technology officer of BlueBox, likened the issue to a tradesman arriving at a building, presenting his ID to a security guard and being given special access to its infrastructure without a phone call being made to the tradesman's employer to check he is really on its books.
"That missing link of confirmation is really where this problem stems," he told the BBC.
"The fundamental problem is simply that Android doesn't verify any claims regarding if one identity is related to another identity."

Apps that make use of Adobe's Flash plug-in can have malware added to their code

To make matters worse, he added, a single app can carry several fake identities at once, allowing it to carry out multiple attacks.
Mr Forristal gave three examples of how a faked certification signature might be used to cause harm:

• The app pretends to be created by Adobe Systems - Adobe is granted the privilege of being able to add code to other apps in order to support their use of its Flash media-player plug-in. The malware can take advantage of this to install Trojan horse malware into otherwise authentic programs
• The app uses the same ID used by Google Wallet - the search firm's mobile payment software is usually the only app allowed to communicate with the secure hardware used to make credit card transactions via a phone's tap-to-pay NFC (near field communication) chip. By exploiting this, the malware can obtain financial and payment data that would otherwise be protected
• The app impersonates 3LM software - many manufacturers add their own skins to Android to customise their devices' user interfaces and functions. In the past, HTC, Sony, Sharp, Motorola and others did this by using extensions created by a now defunct business called 3LM. By masquerading as 3LM's software, malware could take full control of the relevant devices and both uninstall their existing software as well as adding spyware, viruses and other damaging content of its own

BlueBox made headlines last July when it revealed the Master Key bug - a coding loophole that could allow hackers to take control of Android devices. Cybercriminals were later spotted using the technique to target users in China.
Mr Forristal said he believed that the Fake ID flaw had the potential to be a bigger problem.
"Master Key did allow a whole device to be taken over... but the user had to be duped into a couple of decisions before the malware would be able to achieve its goal," he explained.
"Fake ID unfortunately occurs in a manner that is hidden to the user - there's no prompts, no notifications, no need for special permissions.
"The user can actually be told the app doesn't want any special permissions at all, which most people would think makes it relatively safe. But once Fake ID is installed it's 'game over' instantly."
Google Play scan

 

Google says it has scanned all the apps in its Google Play store for the flaw

Dr Steven Murdoch, a security expert at the University of Cambridge's computer laboratory agreed this was a serious flaw. But he added that most device owners should still be able to avoid being affected.
"Google will be looking for people who are exploiting this vulnerability in applications being distributed through its own Google Play store," he said.
"So, if that's the only place that you get apps from, you are in a relatively good position.
"But if you download applications from other sources you will be putting yourself at risk."
A spokeswoman from Google confirmed that the company had scanned all the applications in its own store as well as some of those elsewhere.
"We have seen no evidence of attempted exploitation of this vulnerability," she added.
BlueBox is releasing an Android app of its own that will check whether the host device has been patched.

Android L:The Best Looking android yet

The preview version of Android L is currently available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7

Google announced the latest version of Android at its developer conference in the last week of June. Called Android L, which by the way is a temporary name, the new version promises users a better looking interface, faster performance, more battery life and overall a smoother experience than what they get with the existing versions of Android.Android L is going to be available to consumers in the next few months. But if you have a Nexus 5 phone (or a Nexus 7 2013 tablet), and if you are familiar with terms like ROM, Flashing and Bootloader, you can install the preview version of Android L. We are using Android L on a Nexus 5 for nearly a month now and based on our experience with it so far, we can give you a fair idea of what you can expect from it when it rolls out to consumers.
However, before we talk more about the operating system (OS), here is something important to note: Android L is a work in progress. The preview version gives a taste of it to users, but by no means it is the final version. It can, and most likely will, change before it is available to end users.
Material design is elegant
Compared to Android Jelly Bean and Android KitKat, which more or less followed the basic design and interface that Google used in Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Android L shakes up things in a more significant way. It replaces the Holo design that Google used in Ice Cream Sandwich with the Material design, which is based on a layered user interface (UI). It is a flatter and more colourful design. For end users, this means two important changes - one, the core UI elements like multitasking and notification shade have changed, and two, the basic design of apps too is going to see changes.
Of all the interface changes that Android L introduces, the following ones are most significant:

Lockscreen: The lockscreen of the phone can now show the notifications. Many Android users were using lockscreen widgets for the same functionality earlier but now it is baked in. These notifications can then be dismissed with a swipe to right or left. But if you double tap on a notification, it opens the app that is sending the notification.From the lockscreen, you can also access the quick settings by swiping down the notification shade. This works even if the phone is locked. Also, to go to the dialer, you can swipe from left edge to the right and to go to camera you can swipe from right edge to the left.
The lockscreen of Android is more dynamic now. Unfortunately, it seems that Google has removed the support for third-party lockscreen widgets. So, some of your favourite weather widgets or apps like Dashclock may not work with Android L. At least for now.

Notifications

Notification shade and quick settings: The Material design in Android L uses layers. The best example of this is seen in the way notification shade has been designed. In Android KitKat, bringing down the notification shade opens a layer which has notifications. To access quick settings, users can tap on a small toggle on the right top corner. But in Android L, the notification shade is made up of three layers: The top layer shows the basic information like date, remaining battery, and has the bar to adjust brightness of the device. The second layer has buttons that give access to most used settings like Wi-Fi and Airplane mode. The third layer is where notifications from apps are shown. When you open the notification shade, you can see the subtle animation that layers use as they slide out. It looks cool and the animation is smooth.

Multitask with cards: Multitasking UI is another big change in Android L. Unlike the filmstrip of thumbnails in Kitkat, Android L uses deck of cards as multitasking UI. It is similar to how open tabs are shown in Chrome browser on Android. The animation while shuffling the cards, which represent open apps, is smooth.With the new version of the OS, there is one more big change in the way multitasking is handled in Android. Earlier, if you clicked a link in the Twitter app, it opened a web page in Chrome but strangely considered that page a part of Twitter. But in Android L, the web page will be a part of the Chrome app, the way it is supposed to be.

User interface elements: Other than using layers, the material design adds some specific elements to UI. However, these elements will be available to users only if the app developers follow UI guidelines prepared by Google. For now, to see the UI elements part of the Material design, a user can open the phone dialer or the calculator. The idea with the new design is to provide a more consistent feedback to users and keep a uniform look & feel within the apps. For example, the touchable elements in the dialer app glow when a user taps them.Similarly, if you are scrolling through a list and reach the end, there is subtle shadowy animation that tells users that the list has ended.
Android L has better and smoother animations. This means even within apps, navigating from one element to other gives a more polished experience and makes the OS feel a lot slicker.
And yes, the onscreen navigation buttons have changed. Now they are represented by a triangle (back button), a circle (home button), and a square (multitasking button).
ART inside Android
Android L is a preview version. It is undoubtedly better looking than Android KitKat. But on the performance part, KitKat running on Nexus 5 still has the edge. Right now Android L on Nexus 5 feels a wee bit slower, most likely because of all the extra animations that have been added. Though, the difference is not that much and we feel that the final version of Android L on Nexus 5 will be as fast as KitKat if not more.
In terms of performance, here are the highlights:
ART: A new runtime, ART was part of KitKat. But it has to be enabled. By default KitKat uses Dalvik, the older runtime which has been a part of Android since its beginning in 2008. With Android L this is changing. In the new version of the Android, ART is the default runtime. But what does that mean for users?
Google says ART will make Android phone more responsive and faster. But why? Here is the explanation: When you currently install an app on an Android phone, Dalvik is used to run and compile it. The process is called Just In Time, which means that when you launch an app, elements of it are compiled and run. This is a pretty fine system but from time to time you may feel that the app you are trying to run doesn't feel as responsive as it ought to be.
ART uses Ahead Of Time process. This means when you install an app on an Android phone running ART, the necessary elements of the app are compiled and stored on the phone's internal storage in advance. So when you launch an app, the operating system doesn't have to compile anything. This results in an app that feels more responsive and has lower load time.
The disadvantage of ART is that apps take more space on the internal storage of the phone and when you are booting/restarting the phone, you may have to wait a few extra seconds before you can access homescreen.

Battery saver mode: Almost all Android smartphones nowadays come with a battery saver mode. But this mode is the work of companies that have made the phone and is not a part of the standard Android OS. With Android L, Google is giving the OS an inbuilt battery saver mode. The implementation of the battery saver mode in Android L is fantastic. It can be accessed from Battery settings but by default it is turned on. As soon as the phone gets below 15% battery, the mode kicks in. This means the brightness of the display is automatically dimmed, the performance of the phone is reduced and all the fancy animations are switched off.The battery saver mode works well. Google claims that Android L is more sensitive to the battery use compared to previous versions of Android. The company talks about Project Volta, aimed at improving battery life of Android phones. With battery saver mode on, we found the claim to be largely true. With Android L, our Nexus 5 consistently gets better standby battery life. In actual use, we found that Android L gave us around 1 to 2 hours of extra battery life compared to what we got with KitKat on Nexus 5.
Using Android L

Our overall experience of using Android L has been very positive. But it is also clear that for now the OS is not ready for the prime time. It is full of usual bugs that accompany a preview release. Many things don't work. For example, tethering doesn't work. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network using a proxy is an issue. Then there are UI glitches in apps that have not yet updated for Android L. Twitter's official app just doesn't work. The Facebook app can't show comments in a proper way.Yet, as we said, we have a positive impression of Android L. When it feels fast, it does feel fast. The animations and flatter UI elements make Android L slicker. It is definitely good enough to stand in the league of Windows Phone and iOS. Once some of the glitches are taken care of - something that we expect to happen by the time the final version comes to Nexus phones - it will be a fantastic smartphone OS to use.
Android L is light on visible new features. Battery saver mode has been added. The lockscreen is more dynamic now. There is even a Do Not Disturb mode, similar to the one in iOS.
But with Android L Google is focusing on the basics. Primarily, the company is providing developers a platform that will help them create better looking and better performing apps. And that is where it gets little complex. On its own, Android L is pretty fine. But to achieve its full potential, it requires support from app developers. They have to use the Material design in their apps. They have to make proper use of the performance enhancing features like ART that Google has put in Android L. Hopefully, before the final version of Android L hits the Nexus devices, we will see some magic from Android developers.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/android-l-the-flattest-and-best-looking-android-yet/1/374493.html

Google Nexus 5 facing battery backup issues with the new update

There have been many complaints about Google Nexus 5 battery life from device owners, even after the recent Android 4.4.3 update.
Battery drain issues was one of the reasons Nexus 5 owners had anticipated the KitKat upgrade, which came with the promise to fix battery drain, bugs and other problems.
However, it appears more issues appeared after the Android 4.4.3 update, and Nexus 4 and 5 got the biggest share of problems, such as lagging apps, connections and screen freezes.
Other issues include notification problems, lagging Google Play Store, redesign lag in the Android dialer and unknown errors in Exchange ActiveSync.
The first Android KitKat buzz came in March, and the update was said to be a massive or major bug fixer that would tackle problems brought on by Android 4.4.2, which were quite many.
Early June, Google pushed out Android 4.4.3 to stabilize Google Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10, plus update the OS of Google Play phones: Moto E, Moto G and Moto X.


It did squash many Android 4.4.2 bugs, while at the same time bringing along some cosmetic changes. However, Android 4.4.3 also brought new bugs of its own.
One of the quickest solutions to handle the issues is to do a factory reset by going to Settings -> Backup & Reset -> Factory data reset. Needless to say, this will delete most of your data, along with your text messages and photos etc.
Last week held quite the surprise, when Google had Android 4.4.3 quickly followed up by an Android 4.4.4 update.
While minimal, the upgrade brought a completely new OS version for Google Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10.
It includes a security fix, which is also HeartBleed-associated - an issue which has been plaguing most OpenSSL platforms.
With regard to battery drain, Nexus 5 has always shown impressive battery life, and is supposedly not affected by the updates, just as many owners say.
For those who want to manage their battery in detail, they can go to Settings -> Device -> Battery. Battery life can also be saved by turning off unneeded features and adjust settings such as screen brightness.

Android L 5.0 vs 4.4 kitkat : a comparison

Google has now revealed the first details on the next iteration of it's popular Android OS, and it's shaping up to be one of the most significant updates in the history of the platform. Google is building on the good work done in Ice Cream Sandwich and KitKat, streamlining Android to ensure that it works better than ever on the widest range of devices, while simultaneously working to make it more feature-rich and visually alluring than ever. Want to know howAndroid L shapes up against Android 4.4? Look no further - we're putting them head-to-head. 

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Design

The big news regarding Android L is the fresh look, dubbed "Material" by Google. While there are some similarities between Material and the look of "stock" Android KitKat, the designers at Mountain View are clearly forging a new path here, in purely aesthetic terms. 

The flatness seen in KitKat is still present and correct, but it comes with a twist: realism. Animation is going to play a big part in the new design, and Android L will adopt real-time shadows to give its interface more depth and make it look a little more dynamic. The shadows are there because Android L will make much more use of layers in the UI, allowing developers to do all kinds of visual customisation within their apps.

Another big change is that the famous Android "soft" buttons have been given a face lift, and look even more stylish than before - even if they do call to mind the symbols we used to see on our old VCR players. Android L is clearly an update on the existing KitKat style, but Google is embellishing it with new visual tricks to make things even more alluring. From what we've seen, it strikes us as massive improvement over the often flat and uninspiring Android 4.4.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Security

Google has made massive strides with Android when it comes to overall security, coming up with innovations such as pattern unlocks and facial recognition. KitKat didn't bring much new to the table in this respect, but it worked well enough. Android L's big advance is going to be about making security more convenient, and it will do this using two methods: Android Wear and your current location.

In the first case, you can use your shiny new Android smartwatch as an authentication tool to automatically bypass your phone's passcode when it detects the watch nearby. In the second example, you can designate safe zones – your home, for example – where your phone will switch off your lock code. While both of these features could potentially create a security risk, if someone steals your phone and your smartwatch, they have access to all of your personal data, for instance, but they will overcome the irksome issue of having to continually unlock your device every few minutes.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Notifications 

Notifications have been Android's strong suit since day one, and Google is making them even better in Android L. The big change here is that they're being integrated into the lock screen – something Google previously experimented with when it developed lock screen widgets which allowed you to view emails and events without actually unlocking your phone.

As well as making notifications the first thing you see when you pick up your handset, Google is working on making them smarter when the phone is in active use. For example, in KitKat a call would totally interrupt whatever activity you were involved in, be it reading a book, browsing your emails or playing a game. In Android L, events such as these will pop up at the top of the screen, a la Samsung’s Galaxy S5, meaning you can choose to jump to that event or ignore it with a quick tap without leaving your current task.

Compared to Android 4.4, notifications are going to be smarter, more intuitive and less intrusive than before. KitKat's notifications system is decent enough, but it was basically recycling what had come before, so it’s good to see some out-of-the-box thinking from Google in this respect.

Android 5.0 L vs. Android KitKat: Battery Life

Project Butter was Google's way of making Android feel smoother and slicker, and now the company has revealed Project Volta – a system which will provide developers with a better means of determining what elements of their apps are draining battery at an unnecessary rate. Because Volta will open up the battery stats to devs, they can tinker with their code to make apps more efficient and spot potential problem areas.

Android L will also take a leaf out of HTC and Samsung's books by coming with a battery saving mode by default. This will help users get as much mileage out of each charge as possible by throttling certain functions when juice is low. Such improvements will ensure that Android L is leaps and bounds ahead of KitKat, which only offers basic stats on what process is gobbling up the most power.

Android L will begin rolling out to consumers in Q4. 

Microsoft Outlook app is now available on android

First, the good news: Microsoft has made its Outlook Web App (OWA) available for some devices running Google's Android operating system.

The app is actually a prerelease that will allow Microsoft to fix bugs before holding a full-scale rollout, tech site Mashable reported.

"For now, the app is limited to devices running Android KitKat 4.4 or higher that have 'small' or 'normal'-sized screens. Supported devices include the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5, the Nexus 5, Moto X, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia ZL, but the company says it will be adding more devices regularly," it said.

Mashable added the app will have the same features as the version for Apple's iOS.

Also, the Android OWA can automatically sync changes to a device's contacts with the contacts list in Office 365.

"If friends change their phone numbers and you update their information in your phone's contacts app, for example, the change will automatically be reflected in their contact information in Office 365," it said.

Now, the bad news: the app in its present form is limited to users with Office 365 for business accounts.

This means it cannot be used yet for those with personal, home or Outlook.com accounts, at least for now. 

Android 4.4.4 is on the air for nexus devices

It's been barely a month since Android 4.4.3 started rolling out for Nexus devices and Google has already started rolling out the 4.4.4 update. But while this may not be as big an update as its predecessor (which itself wasn't especially big) it does take care of a major security issue.

According to the change log posted by Sprint, this update just brings a security fix. According to Android Police, it contains a patch for an OpenSSL bug, which would have allowed a man-in-the-middle attack. This is similar to the Heartbleed bug that was addressed in 4.4.3 update.

The OTA update is just rolling out for the Nexus 5 for now but Google has provided factory images on its website for the Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10. If you used Towelroot to root your device then it will remain unaffected.

Android and Windows to get 'kill switch'

Google and Microsoft will add a "kill-switch" feature to their Android and Windows phone operating systems.

The feature is a method of making a handset completely useless if it is stolen, rendering a theft pointless.

Authorities have been urging tech firms to take steps to help curb phone theft and argued that a kill-switch feature can help resolve the problem.

Apple and Samsung, two of the biggest phone makers, offer a similar feature on some of their devices.

The move by Google and Microsoft means that kill switches will now be a part of the three most popular phone operating systems in the world.

Growing problem

Smartphone theft has become a big problem across the world. According to a report by US authorities:

• Some 3.1 million mobile devices were stolen in the US in 2013, nearly double the number of devices stolen in 2012
• One in three Europeans experienced the theft or loss of a mobile device in 2013
• In South Korea mobile device theft increased five-fold between 2009 and 2012
• In Colombia criminals stole over one million devices in 2013

In an attempt to tackle the issue, policymakers have launched an initiative called Secure our Smartphones.

As part of it, they have urged technology firms to take steps to make it less attractive for robbers to steal mobile devices.

"An activated kill switch converts an easy-to-sell, high-value multimedia device into a jumble of plastic and glass, drastically reducing its street value," the report by New York Attorney General said.

Explainer: How a kill switch works

• A "hard" kill switch would render a stolen device permanently unusable and is favoured by legislators who want to give stolen devices the "value of a paperweight"
• A "soft" kill switch only make a phone unusable to "an unauthorised user"
• Some argue that the only way to permanently disable a phone is to physically damage it
• Experts worry that hackers could find a way to hijack a kill signal and turn off phones
• If a phone is turned off or put into aeroplane mode, it might not receive the kill signal at all, warn experts

Authorities claim that Apple's feature - dubbed Activation Lock - which it introduced on all iPhones running the iOS 7 operating system in September last year, has helped reduce theft substantially.

According to a report by the New York State Attorney General, in the first five months of 2014 the theft of Apple devices fell by 17% in New York City.

Meanwhile iPhone robberies fell 24% in London and 38% in San Francisco in the six months after Apple introduced the feature, compared to the previous six months.

"During the same period, thefts of other popular mobile devices increased," the report says.

Manoj Menon, managing director of consulting firm Frost & Sullivan said the move was a step in the right direction.

"This is a fantastic move and will go a long way in helping authorities come one step closer to realising a vision of zero theft of mobile phone," he told the BBC.

But he added that it was "not a foolproof system" as thieves "will find a way to monetise the accessories and parts of a phone".

However, he said the market for parts and accessories was relatively small and the kill switch "does substantially reduce the financial incentive of stealing a device".

source: http://bbc.com/news/technology-27935972

Android 5.0 is switching to ART virtual machine

Google's android operating system will move from Dalvik to the ART virtual machine in its next edition.

The mobile operating system's next version, which Google is expected to be released as Android 5.0 Lollipop at its annual Google I/O Developer Conference next week, will be the first to switch from Dalvik as the default, following the introduction of ART as an option in Android 4.4 Kitkat.

End users should see a significant improvement in the performance of devices running ART, however there are likely to be some incompatibilities with older apps from the Google Play Store that haven't been optimised for it.

While the changes have been in progress for some time, the announcement on the AOSP project pages, under the title "Dalvik is dead, Long live dalvik" could not have come at a better time for Google.

Earlier this month, Oracle, the owner of the Java language, won an appeal that meant that vast swathes of Java code in the implementation of Dalvik were in potential breach of copyright, after successfully arguing that although the Java library is open source, the APIs involved are protected by copyright.

The ruling, which has huge repercussions for software developers, sets a precedent that could lead to a series of high profile lawsuits between software houses and developers who have used open source code. INQUIRER readers have been sharply divided on the subject, with many siding either for or against Oracle in comments.

It's not clear if the timing is coincidental or simply convenient, but it has come just in time for the expected announcement next week. After all, the new software will have to be completed and uploaded to millions of devices in order to be available from launch on any new devices that also appear at the Google I/O Developer Conference.

Nokia releases new launcher app for nokia android phones:z launcer

It seems positively bizarre to type, especially since I have been covering the company for nearly a decade now, but Nokia is no longer a cell phone maker. Once the largest phone vendor on the planet by a staggering margin, Nokia sold its devices and services business to Microsoft and will now wear a number of new hats as it looks toward the future. One of those hats, as it turns out, is that of an Android developer — and the company’s first big software announcement is a shockingly impressive one.

Nokia on Thursday took the wraps off of Z Launcher, a truly novel home screen replacement for Android phones.

Android launchers often get lost in trying to differentiate. They also sometimes attempt to pack too much onto each screen. Z Launcher takes the exact opposite approach, stripping away all the noise and displaying only a few key items.

At the top of the screen are the time, date and one upcoming calendar event. Tapping the time will open Android’s clock app and tapping the calendar event will open the phone’s Calendar app.

The remainder of the screen is dedicated to just a few apps, contacts and web pages.

Five static shortcuts appear at the bottom of the screen, while the majority of the launcher screen is occupied by six additional shortcuts. These items lead to a combination of apps, contacts and web pages that you open most often.

Z Launcher is constantly learning and evolving based on your usage patterns. It remembers the apps you use most frequently and monitors what times of the day you use different apps. The same holds true for contacts and web pages. The launcher then displays the content you’re most likely to use at any given time.

But what about all the other content on your phone? Here’s where things get really interesting.

My favorite feature of Z Launcher is “Scribble.” With this nifty feature, everything on an Android phone is just a few swipes away.

Scribble allows users to scribble letters anywhere on the launcher screen in order to open an app. So, for example, if the user wants to open Twitter and it’s not currently on the screen, he or she can simply scribble a “T” and then a “W” on the display.

As each letter is drawn, a list drills down apps, web pages and contacts until the desired item is tapped. Z Launcher remembers the content you access most often and it will surface those items higher each time you scribble. So next time a “T” is drawn, for example, Twitter might be the first result.

Web searches can also be performed by scribbling letters on the screen.

Z Launcher is a very nifty offering from Nokia and it has the potential to completely change the way you use your phone. Smartphones are all about apps, plain and simple. With Z Launcher, your most used apps take center stage and everything else is a few short swipes away.

Nokia’s Z Launcher app is currently available for free as a pre-beta release, and it is compatible with most modern Android phones. I have been testing it for about a day on a Nexus 5, and I have been quite impressed with the app. Also of note, I have not run into any issues despite Z Launcher’s early beta status.