Sprint’s Nexus 6 is getting Android 5.1 today

T-Mobile’s Nexus devices were the only ones known to be getting Android 5.1 the day Google announced it, but Sprint is now throwing its hat into the ring. The company has announced that their Nexus 6 will be getting the upgrade today.

As we’ve seen in Google’s official changelog, there isn’t much new here. We have improved toggles for WiFi and Bluetooth, more security for devices that have been lost or stolen, support for dual-SIM devices and support for VoLTE / HD Voice calling.

Beyond that this should greatly improve the overall performance and user experience with a ton of under-the-hood stuff at work. Sprint also noted a couple of important fixes of their own:

• Enhancements to sending MMS messages in the UK


• Fixed duplicate SMS messages being sent

And that’s about it. You’re looking for version LMY47D, so be sure to charge up and get on WiFi to check for it. Note that the update is going out in stages so if you don’t see it right away then you’ll simply have to wait.

[via Sprint]

 

AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is also getting Android 5.0 Lollipop today

After Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners on AT&T were treated to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop earlier today, it appears Galaxy Note 3 owners are also joining in on the fun. We’ve received reports of the Galaxy Note 3 also receiving Lollipop under build number LRX21V.N900AUCUEOC1. Just like on the Galaxy Note 4, the update weighs in at around 1GB, so it’s pretty hefty. Makes sense too given this is one of the biggest firmware updates to happen to Android in quite some time.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Software Update Includes:

• Songs, photos, apps, and even recent searches from one Android device can be immediately enjoyed across all of your Android devices.


• New User Interface look and feel, more fluid motions


• Priority mode to only allow certain notifications to get through


• Battery saving features and remaining time left to charge or deplete indicators


• Smart Lock to secure phone or tablet by pairing it with a trusted device like a wearable or car


• Most frequently used settings available with just two swipes down from the top screen

Since the update just started rolling out in phases, it may take a little bit longer before it reaches your device. If you don’t feel like waiting for the update to ping you, you can jump into your Settings app and select the General tab, then scroll down to About device > Software updates > > and Check for updates to pull it manually (once it becomes available, of course).

[AT&T]

Thanks, ZP15!

Android Lollipop is getting an “on-body detection” feature that keeps your phone unlocked in your pocket

If you’re the type of person who hates having to unlock their smartphone each time they take it out of their pocket, Google is working on a feature just for you. It’s called on-body detection, and through the use of the accelerometer it predicts when the phone is in your pocket or hand and will keep it unlocked for easy use the next time you reach for it. Once you set it down on a desk or flat surface, it’ll revert to its normal locked state until the next time you unlock it.

There are several red flags that will immediately come to mind. The biggest question: how can the device tell the difference between you carrying it and someone else carrying it? It can’t, so if the device was unlocked while you were moving and the phone somehow exchanges hands while you’re still moving, it will remain unlocked and any no-gooders will have full access.

As such, this feature actually sacrifices a fair bit of security to give the user a bit more convenience. Whether that convenience is worth the sacrifice is up to you to decide based on your needs, usage pattern and environment (for instance, this wouldn’t be a feature necessary for a work-at-home guy like myself).

You can turn the feature on or off just as easily as anything else, of course, so whether you want to use it is entirely up to you. The feature is said to be headed to Lollipop devices in a very limited manner right now, and it will be distributed through an update to Google Play Services so you won’t have to wait for a firmware update or download anything from Google Play to get it. Any of you going to be using this?

[via The Verge]

Download: LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition getting Android 5.1 Lollipop, here’s the OTA file

Android 5.1 is finally headed to the LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play edition, as many of you have reported being able to grab the upgrade over-the-air. Android 5.1 doesn’t house a significant bundle of new features on the surface, though the extent of the bugs fixed (read: a metric crap-ton) is likely incentive enough to grab this one as soon as you can.

Can’t grab the upgrade OTA for whatever reason? Thankfully the OTA download file is already available right here. Simply download it, rename it to update.zip, and either use ADB to flash it or drop it onto the root of your device’s storage as “update.zip” and flash it through recovery.

This file is meant to take you from LRX21P.L004 to LMY47O.L002, so be sure you’re on the right firmware before attempting to flash it. Not comfortable doing it yourself? Be patient as the OTA is likely to be on its way before this batch of Lollipop gets too stale.

Amazon Fire TV is getting support for Bluetooth headsets, expandable USB storage and more

Amazon’s announced a great new update for their TV products, which include the Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick. The two biggest features users will care about is support for expandable storage via the device’s USB port, as well as the ability to listen to your content using Bluetooth wireless headphones.

There’s also a neat feature that’ll easily allow you to bypass web authentication processes when you connect the Fire TV and TV Stick to certain public WiFi hotspots (such as those found in hotels, universities and coffee shops). Here’s the full list of what’s coming:

• Expandable USB storage on Amazon Fire TV—You can now use a connected USB mass storage device to expand your Fire TV storage for downloaded apps and games—this enables you to have more games downloaded for easy access.


• Connect to your hotel or dorm room Wi-Fi with captive portal support out of the box—Take your favorite movies, TV shows, games, and more with you away from home—Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick are the first streaming media devices to enable you to connect to Wi-Fi that requires web authentication—this includes Wi-Fi at most major hotels, as well as some universities.


• Private listening on Fire TV—Enjoy favorite movies and TV shows after the kids go to sleep, without worrying about waking them up. Support for wireless Bluetooth headphones to Fire TV lets you listen to your movie, TV show, or music without bothering others in your household.


• Browse and search Prime Playlists—Prime members can now take advantage of hand-crafted Prime Music playlists directly from Fire TV and Fire TV Stick—there are hundreds of expertly curated Prime Playlists to choose from based on your mood, activity or even artist or decade of choice.


• Hidden PIN entry—With the new PIN entry screen that hides the numbers selected, you can now make sure your kids (or freeloading friends) can’t see your device PIN as you enter it on-screen to confirm a purchase on Fire TV or Fire TV Stick.


• New shortcuts—Quickly put your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick to sleep or enable display mirroring by pressing and holding the Home button on your remote.

There’s no exact date for the update’s release just yet, though Amazon promises it’ll be along within the coming weeks. Oh, and folks in the UK and Germany who prefer the stick-shaped variant will be happy to know that you can now order one, but it won’t be shipping until April 15th.

[via Amazon]

 

AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is now getting Android 5.0 Lollipop

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 owners on AT&T are waking up to a very nice treat today. The company has announced that the upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop has started rolling out. It’s 1.2GB in size, and WiFi is a requirement to download it over-the-air. You’ll be looking for build LRX22C.N910AUCU1COC2, and this changelog doesn’t make it sound like much is changing:

• Android 5.0 (Lollipop)


• Service additions:
  
  
  
  • Find My Mobile
  
  
  • Reactivation lock
  
  
  
  


• Stability improvements

That said, you already know about all the goodness Android 5.0 Lollipop brings on its own so just get excited. Head to Settings > About Device > Software Updates to check for it right away.

[via AT&T]

Sprint announces upcoming cities getting ‘Direct 2 You’ traveling reps, now open to new or existing customers

We thought that maybe if we had time to stew it over a little bit, Sprint’s Direct 2 You program would make a little more sense to us. But here we are, a little over a month later and it still sounds like a really strange to move to us. Not bad, mind you. Just strange for a carrier struggling to keep that #3 spot in the US.

In either case, Sprint has announced the next few cities that will benefit from their traveling representatives. Direct 2 You will officially become available in New York City, San Francisco, and Denver starting June 1st. Sprint says their “Xperts” (reps) bring the full in-store “Xperience” straight into the confines of your home. Getting up off the couch to make a trip across town is now obsolete.

The service is completely free, and where it was previously only available to Sprint customers in Kansas City, Miami, and Chicago looking to upgrade their devices (and needing help with setup), it’s now opened to anyone. That means even if you’re currently on T-Mobile and have your heart set on switching to Sprint, Direct 2 You can be at your door in a jiffy.

All you have to do is schedule an appointment by calling Sprint’s 800 number (which can be found at sprint.com/direct2you) and pick the time and place you’d like a Sprint rep to meet with you and give the rundown on your new phone. Sprint says some people have even set up appointments in hotel lobbies or restaurants, so just about anyplace is fair game. Now that’s service.

[Sprint]

Moto X (2nd Gen) getting Android 5.1 soak test in Brazil, comes with a cool new flashlight gesture

Motorola has announced that their 2nd generation Moto X has started receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop, though only in limited capacity. The rollout has started as a soak test out in Brazil, with the company saying they’re working hard to ready it for more regions and carriers shortly down the line.

Motorola has also detailed a new feature they’ve included alongside the bug-squashing goodness of Android 5.1 — chop twice for flashlight. It’s a new gesture that lets you move your phone in a chopping motion (as if you were chopping veggies) to quickly enable or disable your flashlight. It’s a nice alternative to having to unlock your phone, head to the app menu and find an app just to get that pesky LED light to turn on.

[via Motorola]

Nexus 6 could be getting its WiFi Calling update this Memorial Day weekend

We’ve known about T-Mobile’s plan to have WiFi Calling enabled on the Nexus 6 since back in October. There’s been quite a few Lollipop updates since then, with none of them bringing that feature T-Mobile customers have been clamoring for.

If the recent tweets of T-Mobile Senior Product Manager Desmond Smith are to be believed, that update — so long in the making — could finally rollout this weekend. You’ll find his tweet down below.

Alright, so his tweet didn’t come out and say it, but if you remember back on May 12th, Des tweeted that a last minute bug was discovered in the software, delaying the update by 7-10 days. Well, here we are 9 days later, and Des is teasing something sweet coming to the Nexus 6 this weekend.

Des’ lips are tied but if we were betting men, we’d put our chips on the Nexus 6 receiving WiFi Calling this Memorial Day weekend. Keep those fingers crossed!

[Twitter]

Hearthstone is getting an awesome new game mode for the first time in next update

Hearthstone fans, rejoice! Arena, Ranked and Casual play are no longer the only three ways to have fun in the collectible card game. Blizzard has announced a great new update that will add Tavern Brawl.

Tavern Brawl is a new game mode where Blizzard sets some whacky conditions for building decks, as well as possibly changing card texts or increasing (and even decreasing) life totals. It’s a fun way to play the game that has been featured by many third-party tournaments in the past, so we’re glad to see Blizzard incorporating something into the game as standard.

The way it works is Blizzard will set up a new “Brawl” each week, with global parameters being applied to everyone who enters. One week might be building a deck where you can’t use any class cards, while next week you could see a zero mana cost Dr. Boom. Crazy, I know. Blizzard hasn’t yet fully detailed the rewards you get for participating in brawls, though they did note that the mode will be free to start (indicating there may be a pay wall — whether you have to use gold or real money — down the line).

Other changes coming as part of patch 2.7 include the ability to set card backs for individual decks, as well as buying (for .99, no other option) and using the new alternate heroes. These heroes won’t have different class cards or mechanics, but you do get a new face to look at, new emotes and possibly new hero power animations. You can see the Warrior’s new hero — Magni Bronzebeard — in the video ahead.

So when’s it all arriving? Blizzard’s only timeline was “mid-June,” which isn’t very long. We’d hope it’s in time for the weekend, though knowing Blizzard we’re likely to see it around Monday or Tuesday.

[via Blizzard]

Motorola DROID Turbo is now getting Android 5.1 Lollipop

It’s out, folks: the Motorola DROID Turbo’s Lollipop is now widely available for all to download after a brief soak test. The DROID Turbo was infamously held as one of the last devices in Motorola’s 2014 lineup to see Lollipop, and it didn’t help matters that there were units spotted with the goods in the wild a long time ago.

There aren’t many surprises by now: this is Lollipop (Android 5.1, to be specific), and it brings you up to the most contemporary version of Android available. That brings a whole new slew of features over the previous KitKat firmware, including a new Material Design user interface, lock screen notifications and more.

You’re looking for version 23.11.38.en.US, so get on WiFi, charge up and try to pull it down over the air if you’ve been waiting on this.

A Motorola DROID phone could be getting Moto Maker love in the future [RUMOR]

To now, Motorola has only used Moto Maker to allow folks to customize devices from the Moto X, as well as the Moto 360. That exclusive list could be getting some new company, though.

A source familiar with the matter has revealed to Phandroid that Motorola is considering adding a DROID phone to the Moto Maker ranks. Unfortunately we weren’t treated to concrete details about which phone it might be.

The first guess might be the Motorola DROID Turbo, and that would make sense with it being Verizon’s most recent flagship DROID. Considering we’ve seen Verizon release a whopping 3 new color variants for the DROID Turbo in recent weeks it sounds like they’ve at least been considering it. Perhaps they even used that as an excuse to test the logistics that would go behind providing multiple color options for a DROID phone.

Of course, the DROID Turbo will soon be a year old and the next new kid on the block will be set to arrive later this summer, so it’s also possible they’ll look to provide Moto Maker customization with that particular device. What device might that be? We’re still not sure, but we know one is coming and Motorola probably won’t want to disappoint.

AT&T’s Nexus 6 now getting Android 5.1.1

AT&T’s Nexus 6 is receiving a nice upgrade today. The company has started rolling out Android 5.1.1, the latest stable version of our beloved operating system.

The update isn’t known to bring any huge changes aside from some of the maintenance stuff going on under-the-hood, but it should lead to overall improved system stability and performance. The update will also correctly disable Smart Lock when using EAS password policies.

It’s build LMY47Z, baseband MDM9625_104446.01.02.101R, and an 81MB download that should go down smoothly over 4G LTE or WiFi. Be sure to charge your battery a bit before attempting to pull it down, and enjoy the stable Android experience that you deserve.

[via AT&T]