Google launches an Android for Work app for Android 4.0 – 4.4 users

Google’s Android for Work initiative gives businesses a mobile platform flexible and suitable enough for the secure workplace, but those lucky enough to get in on the fun in the early days have been forced to use Android 5.0 Lollipop to take advantage. That is no longer the case.

Google has released an Android for Work app in the Google Play Store specifically for those with phones between Android 4.0 and Android 4.4. Pre-4.0 users need not apply, though if you have a phone with legacy software you might be well overdue for an upgrade.

Android for Work isolates and encrypts your work-related data and keeps it separate from your personal stuff, giving your network administrators peace of mind whenever you need to conduct business on the go. It’s a big step for the Android platform and one that had to be made if Google wanted its usage in the business sector to grow.

Unfortunately the program is only available for select businesses who have signed up for Android for Work right now. If your company doesn’t yet know about it you should urge your IT department to contact Google and see if you can’t get setup. For those who do have it but aren’t fortunate enough to have a Lollipop device you can get your app right here.

YouTube is now teasing Android users with 4K 60fps K-pop videos

Technology moves fast and the folks at YouTube are doing their best to stay ahead of the curve. In recent months, we’ve seen Google take new steps to fortify YouTube with a handful of new features and enhancements to keep bleeding edge viewers happy.

By now you’ve heard virtual reality is gearing up to become the next big thing in tech. Although actual VR content is scarce, YouTube recently launch 360-degree 3D videos viewable through the Android app and Chrome web browser. And while most of us are still watching movies/TV shows on our 1080p televisions, love it or hate, we’re now seeing smartphones move to higher-resolution 2K displays. With that, Google added a 1440p option in the YouTube for Android app.

Today, YouTube is now going 1-step above normal 4K steaming, where they’re now experimenting with 4K resolution video running at a blistering 60 frames per second. It’s enough to bring anyone desktop PC to its knees, with our 3 month old MacBook Pro stuttering and freezing like it was on dial up.

Unfortunately for Android users — as with the rest of YouTube’s 60fps content — this is desktop only for now. Not that we would even stream at 4K/60 on our smartphone (the Snapdragon 810 caps at 1080p/120) but 2K would be nice. We’re not sure how much longer this will be the case, but can Android users get a little 60fps love, Google?

Check down below for a few more YouTube videos running at 2160p/60fps (or check out the 6 video playlist here). That Star Citizen video is really impressive.

My pants after watching K-pop in 4K/60fps

LG G4 users will get 100GB of Google Drive storage for free

LG made sure to mention many times that the LG G4 has expandable storage, but that hasn’t stopped them from catering to cloud lovers. All G4 owners will get 100GB of Google Drive storage for free. This is on top of the 15GB of storage Google already gives users. With all of these storage options you should have plenty of space to save the full-size RAW photo files. Will this convince you to give the LG G4 a shot?

LG G4 announcement

Full specs

Google Play Store 5.4 brings more immersive listings for Lollipop users, rolling out today

It feels like it wasn’t too long ago that the Google Play Store added those fancy colored status bars. It wasn’t that big a deal, just something that was introduced in KitKat. Today, Googler Kirill Grouchnikov is revealing some new changes making their way onto Google Play starting today, but it’s only for users running Lollipop.

Evolution of the Google Play Store’s listings page

Once again, it’s not a big change, just a little something Android fans will get a kick out of. The Play Store now features transparent status bar when viewing listings, going full-on immersive in the latest update (Google Play 5.4). With the hero images for listings slowly inching higher up on your phone’s display, more content can be displayed below without scrolling. And that’s pretty neat.

For those that don’t feel like waiting for the updated Play Store to hit their device, you can download it from us below.

Download: Google Play Store 5.4.10

[Google+]

#Rotategate: Many Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge users are having auto-rotate issues

Is your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge suddenly stuck in one screen orientation? You’re not alone — Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge accelerometers everywhere seem to be getting their gears jammed and it has nothing to do with forgetting to select auto-rotate in your settings.

A fairly sizable collective of individuals have reported that their Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge units periodically refuse to respond when trying to switch from portrait to landscape and vice versa. The only solution that has worked thus far? Walking into the store and requesting a new device, and reports from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T customers confirm that they are granting these replacements without hesitation.

It seems that the Galaxy S6 Edge fast charger is heating the battery more than normal, causing the nearby accelerometer chip to burn out.

How to check if your S6 Edge accelerometer is busted:

… you can see that the accelerometer is stuck. To verify, enter “*#0*#” in your phone app to enter hardware test mode. Touch “Sensor”. The X, Y and Z for the accelerometer must all change in rapid succession as you rotate your phone. If any are stuck on 32767 or -32768, you have a HARDWARE problem which cannot be fixed by updates of software/firmware of ANY kind.

It’s still possible that a simpler solution exists, for example a firmware patch or maybe there was a bad batch of fast chargers but unfortunately that’s not the currently prevailing school of thought. We’ve put in a word to Samsung and are awaiting an official response, but in the meantime, join the more complete discussion on the topic on Android Forums.

It’s also worth noting that there have been no such reports for the regular version of the Samsung Galaxy S6, just the S6 Edge.

[via AndroidForums.com]

Latest Android malware sneakily installs rogue apps, but Play Store users need not worry

Quick heads-up on a vulnerability you might learn about soon. The folks at Palo Alto stumbled across a major security vulnerability within Android that could allow malicious apps to hijack an app install. Before you freak out and hook your phone up to a chemo machine to rid it of any impurities, stop — there’s almost nothing to be worried about here:

• Google has already patched it ahead of this report being released


• The initial bug was reported to Google as early as January 2014. We suspect Google kept it under wraps this long to make sure no-gooders wouldn’t try to target exposed devices


• The vulnerability only affects sideloaded apps or apps downloaded from third-party app stores


• It only affected Android versions prior to 4.4


• For devices not on 4.4 or higher, Palo Alto worked with top manufacturers like Samsung to patch this fix in with their most recent software updates. Amazon also updated their Appstore to patch the vulnerability

So what does it do? According to them, since a side-loaded APK is installed from an unprotected source such as an SD card, an app could hijack the process of installing the app by Android’s package installer. It’d do this by replacing the legit APK with one that would most likely contain some sort of malware and other nasty stuff, and it would all happen without the user even knowing.

The dirty (but full) details can be found in the report published here, but the reality is that most folks with a phone made within the past couple of years are probably safe. Still, if you’re the oddball who still as a Nexus One on Android 2.3 and might be using a third-party app store over Google Play, you’ll be glad you know about it.

Palo Alto made a neat app that will check your phone to see if it is vulnerable. If it’s not, you’re good to go. If it is? Well, you should definitely try to download a ROM based on at least Android 4.4, or use this as a good excuse to finally get that new phone you’ve been eying. Be safe friends, and try not to download anything outside of Google Play unless you absolutely have to.

Report: Android M will allow users to block app permissions upon installation

A new report out of Bloomberg claims Google is finally about to give Android users the one feature they’ve been asking for years now: the ability to hand-pick specific permissions to grant an app upon installation. It’s supposed to be just one of the many features coming in Android M, Google’s next major Android release said to debut at this year’s Google I/O.

Privacy is a growing concern amongst mobile users, with some even forgoing installing certain apps because of their lengthy permission requests (Facebook being the first that comes to mind). It’s not entirely clear which permissions you’ll be able to block (all or just some of them?) but basic permissions like photos, location, and contacts were the ones that were named.

Because often times an app needs many of these permissions to function properly, giving users the ability to block each and every permissions but not be the best move. Not everyone understands that. We’re guessing it’ll be something similar to how iOS asks the user to grant apps permission to access their gallery, or camera app in order to function. In either case, giving users more control of their OS is never a bad thing.

Motorola invites DROID Turbo users to new soak test; is it finally Lollipop?

It’s coming, folks. Motorola has sent soak test notifications to Motorola DROID Turbo users informing them that they can participate in an early trial of an upcoming software upgrade. Be sure to check your email for instructions if you’ve signed up to be part of Motorola’s Feedback Network.

The company didn’t share what, exactly, was in store, but considering units have been spotted in the wild with Lollipop (and folks are so anxious that Motorola had to keep reminding us Lollipop is coming) we’re willing to bet it’s that. Of course, there’s a chance it isn’t and we could be getting a very disappointing maintenance release.

But it’s been so long. You guys have waited longer than most other owners of contemporary Motorola smartphones. It’s cruel and unusual if this isn’t Lollipop. Fingers crossed that it is.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Google Opinion Rewards survey asks users if they have a “Google monthly movie pass”

A strange question from Google inside their Google Opinion Rewards app is leaving some scratching their heads. During one of Google’s many surveys, they ask users, “Do you have a Google monthly movie pass?” Google+ user Hugo Seijas saw this and quickly posted the above screenshot to his page wondering if he perhaps stumbled upon something. Why is it so weird? Google is essentially asking users if they have a subscription to a service that doesn’t even exist — but why?

Before you read too much into the question, our own Derek Ross remains skeptical. He points out that Google often times plants test questions in Opinion Rewards just to make sure a user is answering honestly and not just tapping any answer in hopes of gaining a reward as quickly as possible. We’ve also seen reports from other users who have been asked if they’ve ever visited fictional places and other planted questions.

Still, this seems different in that it’s so vague. It’s simply not a very good test question to check if someone is paying attention in that a casual Android user could easily mistake this for Netflix running on their “Google phone” or something similar. Now, we’re not saying this is a hint of things to come, but if Google really was planing an actual Google Play Monthly Movie Pass, it certainly would make for some interesting competition. Can’t let Netflix have all the fun, right?

Thanks, Jerry!