WhatsApp voice calling now enabled for anyone and everyone who wants to use it

WhatsApp had previously given select lucky users the ability to place voice calls before, but a vast majority of the userbase was left out. That ends today — the company has flipped the server side switch that allows everyone to make voice calls.

As long as you’re on WhatsApp version 2.12.5, you’ll start to see a new tab named Calls where you can initiate calls to anyone on your contacts list, or simply press the dialer button you’ll find in a chat window.

Both users need to be on the latest version of WhatsApp for it to work, though that shouldn’t be a big issue as the latest update has been out for at least two weeks now. Give it a try the next time you prefer to grace your friends and families’ day with your voice rather than text.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Cyanogen OS 12 (Lollipop) update for the OnePlus One halted to add “OK OnePlus” voice command

If you haven’t yet gotten Cyanogen OS 12 on your OnePlus One, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The company has announced that they’ve had to halt the rollout in order to push out a new version that adds the “OK OnePlus” voice command into the fold. The rollout will resume mid-week, according to company man Carl Pei.

One might wonder why they simply wouldn’t wait until the current rollout is over and add the feature in a follow-up maintenance patch, but one would have to be behind the closed doors of OnePlus to truly know. We’re just glad they had a very good reason (the addition of an awesome new feature) to do it, and that it won’t take longer than a few days to get things going again.

Of course, if you’re impatient and can’t stand to wait you can always get the previous Lollipop release loaded onto your OnePlus One manually. There’s a handy guide showing you how to do just that over at the OnePlus forums so be sure to check it out. Otherwise, hold your horses and know that the goods should be going back out over-the-air before the week is over.

Google Now on Tap takes Android’s voice recognition to the next level [VIDEO]

We thought third-party app support would be the coolest thing headed to Google Now this year, but we weren’t even close. Google has announced Now on Tap, a new context-driven element for Google Now that’ll help you figure stuff out, take action and look up information related to what you’re looking at on your phone.

The quick explanation is that you can be inside an app, and Google Now — should you call on its never-ending expertise — can automatically determine what context you’re speaking in, even without specifics. One example was Spotify. You could be listening to Skrillex, and say “OK Google, what’s his real name?” From there, Google Now knows that “his” refers to “Skrillex” and will load up a Google Search that’ll return that exact information.

Another example showed two spouses messaging each other and asking about a restaurant for dinner. Holding the home button — still within that conversation — automatically brings up the restaurant, with reviews and directions for driving there. It’ll also be able to surmise whether you’re talking about a movie within an email conversation, or if you’re trying to find out more information about a specific food item on a menu inside a restaurant’s app.

The most interesting part of all this is that Google claims developers will not have to make any modifications to their apps for Google Now on Tap to work. It just happens, and it’s damn cool.

It’s a little scary, sure — Google Now knows enough about what I’m doing on my phone to provide context-accurate information? That’s sure to raise a big red flag for any privacy nut, but if Google’s privacy policy for using your data on all their other services is anything to go by we aren’t so sure there’s reason to worry.

Privacy aside, Google Now on Tap is very cool, and is perhaps the single biggest addition to the service since its arrival a couple of years back. Be sure to check out the video demos of Google Now on Tap in action in the YouTube clip above, and look forward to being able to try it out on the Android M developers’ preview once it’s ready.

Google I/O session reveals ‘Voice Access’ feature coming soon to Android

Earlier today, Google posted the official Google IO 2015 schedule. The schedule simply highlighted a list of the day’s events taking place during the developer convention. We already know Android M will be making an appearance at the event with Google officially making mention of the next version of Android during their “Android at Work” session. But it seems the schedule is also revealing a few other tidbits as well.

A “Voice Access” talk is also scheduled, described as “Your app, now available hands-free.” The description doesn’t reveal specifics, just that developers will be able to take advantage of the new service, presumably a feature set to debut in Android M. It sounds a bit like Google’s Voice Actions, only Voice Access wont be confined to only the Google app. Instead, Voice Access will allow developers to add voice actions inside their own apps, for truly hands-free use.

Although it wasn’t mentioned in the sessions description, it’s easy to imagine Google planning some sort of global voice actions throughout the entire Android OS, something Android M could finally bring. The convenience angle is clear, but it could be a great option for handicapped users who otherwise wouldn’t be able to interact with a touch screen device.

[Google I/O 2015]

Google Voice survey needs your feedback to prioritize new features

We can’t say it enough: we love Google Voice. As Android bloggers with various devices for work and personal use, we’ve had a long love/hate relationship with the service since it first debuted years ago.

In order to help build a better service, the Google Voice team is looking for some feedback on how you use the features in Voice. Posted in the Google Voice help forum, the team has put together a relatively quick, 10-minute survey they say will help them “prioritize new features.” Anyone that’s used Google Voice in any capacity knows how incredibly important this is. Voice needs a lot of work.

Because time is money, just for taking the time to fill it out the survey, you’ll be entered into a raffle where you’ll have the chance to win a — wait for it — Chromecast. We know, it’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. You can find the link to the survey down below but please, Google Voice users only.

[Google Voice user survey]

AT&T Galaxy S5 Active OTA Update G870AUCU1ANG3, adds Visual Voice Mail enhancements

AT&T Galaxy S5 Active SM-G870A users will receive another Android 4.4.2 OTA software update dubbed with build number G870AUCU1ANG3.  The G870AUCU1ANG3 will replace the previous 4.4.2 firmware G870AUCU1ANE4 and it brings several enhancements and fixes on some issues. The update has the file size of 57.65MB and rolled out via over-the-air.

Changelog of the G870AUCU1ANG3 OTA update:

· Visual Voice Mail (VVM) enhancements
· Security updates and patches
· Application installation enhancements
· Accidental emergency dial fixed on the lock screen
· Several lower layer modem crashes and sluggishness improvement enhancements
· E-mail UX enhancements
· Re-activation lock improvements

Technical Details G870AUCU1ANG3

Android version: 4.4.2
Baseband version: G870AUCU1ANG3
Kernel version: 3.4.0-2304514
Build number: KOT49H.G870AUCU1ANG3
AP: G870AUCU1ANG3
CP: G870AUCU1ANG3
CSC: G870AATT1ANG3

Again, the roll out might be in stages, just make sure to do some tweaking if you ain’t receive the OTA update notification on your Galaxy S5 by hitting Settings>>About Device>>Check for Software Update. To check for more info make sure to hit the source below or follow are simple guide.

How to Upgrade the Galaxy S5 Active to the latest Software Update

Samsung always advises us to prepare the following important notes to consider before performing the software update. I have also added some useful insights why you should follow this procedures to keep your phone in safe.

Recharge the phone’s battery – You should make sure your device is fully recharged before performing the software update. Do not also remove the battery during the software update is in progress. A power failures may cause damaged to your device that might results as we so-called “soft-bricks”. If this happens your device may just stuck on Samsung logo or welcome screen and can’t reboot normally.

Backup important data – You should back-up your important files, including contacts, emails, messages, photos, videos, apps and other stuff. Like I said while during software update process is interrupted there is a possibility that your data stored from your device internal SD card may lose or deleted when a sudden unexpected failure happened and it forces you to perform a factory data reset which basically wipes your phone’s memory.Follow the guide here if you don’t yet on how to backup data on your Galaxy S5 Active.

Not Rooted Galaxy S5 Active – Your device should not been modified or rooted, there is a certain circumstances that a modified and rooted Galaxy S5 Active may not accept any official software update anymore or it can accept an update but it might harm your device once the update has made. Learn about the new Samsung KNOX security suite. Most known error that says ‘firmware upgrade encountered an issue, please select recovery mode in kies and try again‘ or “Your device has been modified Software update are not available” you should try to avoid that from happening.

Update via Over-The-Air (OTA)

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active  OTA Update. This is usually how the carrier branded or locked Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, performs a software update. This method is Firmware Update through over the air or called as OTA update, which usually a notification message will directly sent to you from your network provider or Samsung and notifies you that there is a new update available for download. If you did not received any notification messages you can manually check fro the update instead. Doing this you may only tap on your AT&T Galaxy S5 SM-G870A Settings>>About Device, tap Software Update.

Find “Software update”
Slide your finger down the display starting from the top edge of your mobile phone.
Tap the settings icon.
Tap About device.
Tap Software update.
It will automatically tells you that a new update is available or your software is up to date when there is none yet. You can simply tap install now when you want to perform an update or install later.

source: AT&T

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Sprint Galaxy S5 G900PVPU1ANK4 4.4.4 OTA Update brings HD voice icon, International Wi-Fi calling support

Sprint Galaxy S5 SM-G900V Android 4.4.4 OTA update has finally arrive. The Android 4.4.4 with build number G900PVPU1ANK4 and is now live via OTA  with 366 MB in size and will take around from 15 to 20 minutes to download and install. The G900PVPU1ANK4  update will not just bump the Android OS version to 4.4.4 but also brings new features such as the HD voice icon, International Wi-Fi Calling support and Google’s security patches.

Here are the Android 4.4.4 G900PVPU1ANK4 official changelog, addressed by Sprint and Samsung:

• Android 4.4.4


• HD Voice Icon


• International Wi-Fi Calling Support


• Google Security Patches

Technical Details of the G900PVPU1ANK4 4.4.4 Update

Device: Sprint Samsung Galaxy S5
Model number: SM-G900P
Baseband version: G900PVPU1ANK4
Kernel version: 3.4.0-3182645 dpi@SWDD3002 #1
Build number: KTU84P.G900PVPU1ANK4
SE for Android status: Enforcing

The software update usually  going out in stages, so if  haven’t received the notification message right away you can manually check it from your Galaxy S5 phone, just simply tap on Settings » About phone » Software updates.

Here is the screenshot of the software update build 4.4.4 G900PVPU1ANK4. The G900PVPU1ANK4 has replaced the previous 4.4.2 G900PVPU1ANE5 update in June.

Guide: How to Update to G900PVPU1ANK4 4.4.4 via Over-The-Air (OTA)

 This is the easiest method to get the Firmware Update through over the air or called as OTA update.  which usually a notification message will directly sent to you from your network provider. It simply notifies you that there is a new software update available to download.  If you did not receive any notification messages yet, you can manually check the update instead.  You may only tap on your Galaxy S5 SM-G900P Settings>>About Device, then tap Software Update.

• Find “Software update”


• Slide your finger down the display starting from the top edge of your mobile phone.


• Tap the settings icon.


• Tap About device.


• Tap Software update.

It will automatically tells you that a new update is available or your software is up to date when there is none yet. You can simply tap install now when you want to perform an update or install later. Please escalate to Sprint or Samsung support pages for further instructions.

Those who have a rooted Galaxy S5 G900P might not be able to receive the update, but you can still manually restore back your Sprint Galaxy S5 G900P to stock firmware 4.4.4 G900PVPU1ANK4.

Via: Samsung and Sprint

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