● 04.07.14
●● Android News: CyanogenMod Rebranding, Source Code Releases, Games, Devices, and Tablets
Posted in News Roundup at 4:11 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
CyanogenMod
CyanogenMod reveals new branding that represents openness, security and customizationWell, folks, it looks like CyanogenMod, Inc. is starting to shape up to look like a real legit company. The company has already made big deals with phone manufacturers and successfully raised a good deal of money to help in their endeavors, and now they are making some changes to the way they present themselves.
Source Code
Sprint Announces G2 KitKat OTA Update (Version ZVB), LG Shares Open Source Kernel FilesSprint LG G2 owners may not have too much longer to wait for Android 4.4.2 to arrive. Sprint has posted details on an upcoming OTA update, which should roll out in stages starting today. The version is ZVB, and it contains little aside from all the delicious goodies that come with KitKat. To clarify, the developers have also packed in a fix for an audio issue with the pre-installed NextRadio app. Yeah, all eyes are on Android 4.4.2 here.Sony Posts Open Source Kernel Files For The Xperia T2 Ultra (D5303, D5322, And XM50h)Sony Makes Xperia Z2 And Z2 Tablet Open Source Kernel Files Available For DownloadSony may not have the best track record when it comes to making its phones available across a wide number of carriers in the US, but it has no problem sharing its open source kernel files on a timely basis. The company officially announced the Xperia Z2 a month ago at Mobile World Congress, and now much of the handset’s internal code is available for download on the web.
Ballnux/Samsung
Samsung launches Galaxy Tab4 seriesQualcomm is a big winner inside Samsung’s Galaxy S5David Ortiz’s Selfie With Obama Was a Samsung-Branded Stunt
Google’s alleged Silver program would showcase the best of Android at carrier storesGoogle could have big plans in store for the way that it and other smartphone makers sell and advertise their best Android phones. According to a series of slides allegedly shown inside of Google and leaked to Android Police, Google is developing a program called Android Silver, which would find carriers dedicating a section of their store to some of the top Android phones, each of which would come with some significant advantages over phones that weren’t offered as part of the Silver program.Android makes changes to Google Play Developer Program policyGoogle to Launch Improved Android Camera App, Report SaysCiting “sources aware of Google’s plans,” Engadget said Google is currently testing the new app, which will be pushed to Android users as a separate update, and won’t be part of the forthcoming Android 4.4.3 update.Google gives a sneak peak at Project Ara developmentProject Ara (Phonebloks) and modular pieces of tech in general are gaining steam. So far, we’ve known that we will be able to swap specified parts of our smartphones, which will result in longer lives for our phones and less waste as a result of our tech lusts. Today, Google revealed some of the work that was going on behind the scenes with their ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) group. The Ara team members (read ‘nerds’) took the time out to demonstrate the sliding ‘blocks’ of their prototype or very early build of the devices, and they have not deviated a whole lot from the initial drafts, but there were significant bits of information included.
KitKat
Android 4.4 KitKat gobbles 5% of all Android devicesThe latest flavor of Android is slowly eating up more Android devices, according to the latest stats from Google.KitKat developer tablet previews 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805The Intrinsyc Mobile Development Platform Tablet (“MDP/T”) uses an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC running Android 4.4 (KitKat). According to a TrustedReviews overview of the Snapdragon 800 family, the 805 is set to ship this summer, but Intrinsyc says it’s shipping the MDP/T now for $799. So consider this a sneak preview, or as Intrinsyc calls it “early access” to the Snapdragon 805.
Humble Indie Bundle/Equiso/Games
Humble Indie Bundle 9 For PC & AndroidHumble Bundle for Android and PC 9 goes liveHumble Bundle for PC, Android: Knights of Pen & Paper, Type:RiderEquiso Play Is An Open Source Console For Android GamingThere are already quite a couple of Android gaming consoles out in the market today such as the OUYA and the Mad Catz M.O.J.O. to name a few. These devices offer an alternative gaming platform that is considered cheaper than the Xbox or PlayStation consoles. Equiso Play is another upcoming Android gaming console that aims to make it into the market this year.New open-source Android gaming console Equiso Play now up on KickstarterThere are plenty of Android-powered game consoles already out for consumers to get their hands on and another one up on Kickstarter called Equiso Play. This new one definitely has the potential to be a great product from what we’ve seen of it already.Android Candy: Control-Z for Your Phone!
Embedded/Devices
Google Glass moves with speed thanks to open sourceThe software stack for the Glass builds upon the Android platform, and hence, on top of the Linux Kernel. It was indeed customized for Glass and is available as google-glass-kernel-source. Android BSPs target Atom E3800 reference boardInsyde Software and Timesys have each released enhanced Android BSPs supporting Intel’s “Bayley Bay” evaluation board for the Intel Atom E3800 SoC.
Tablets
‘Akash tablets’ to hit market soonUnder the ministry of human resource development, government of India’s one laptop per child (OLPC) project ‘Akash tablet’ will be available in market in 3-4 months at a cost of around Rs 2,500. The tablet which will be the first of its kind to have a dual book and dual board as it will use both Android as well as Linux operating systems will perform the job of both, a tablet and a computer. It will be the cheapest tablet in the world.Tablets A Bulk CommodityIntel: Small Cheap Computers The New NormalSmall cheap computers naturally fit with GNU/Linux because they are easier to sell without M$’s “tax”.
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