XDA user Breakcore_Rush has posted a very thorough CM12 theme. “Camo” is a dark, minimalist theme with a military design slant. Head inside to check it out!
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Developers can now create and modify Alexa, the software behind Amazon’s Echo device. The Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) is a collection of APIs and tools to create new voice capabilities for the device and has today entered its first developer preview. Amazon has also provided several guides to getting started with the kit.
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One of the best features about an open-source operating system like Android is the fact that developers are given a chance to rip apart fundamental code and rebuild it to their own ends. Yesterday, Google posted the latest version of AOSP, Android-5.1.1_r5, and within it can be found the code to support Wi-Fi-calling, which could potentially be quite a big deal. Straight off the bat however, we have to point out that initially this won’t be the amazing treasure chest that many hope it will be, and instead may end up being rather limited. Let me explain…
Firstly, not all carriers support Wi-Fi calling. Sprint and T-Mobile in the US do for example, along with EE in the UK and a handful of others in different countries, so if you’re not with one of those this won’t be useful in the slightest. The carriers themselves need to support the feature, so unless someone out there is very devious indeed you won’t be able to port this functionality to a device on an unsupported network. Really the main attraction for this code will be for developers to try to implement it on unofficial software. It should be pointed out that the source code is primarily for the Nexus 6, but with luck this can be implemented to other stock and AOSP-based ROMs, so more could benefit regardless of their phone preference. Developers may already be working on adding this code to their custom ROMs, meaning that users of smartphones where this is already possible without rooting and flashing, like many recent flagships, could finally be able to enjoy this feature on top of modified software.
Really however, what many people are most excited about is the potential for Wi-Fi Calling to be ported to devices that don’t officially support it, like the Nexus 4 and 5. This is where things get really difficult, because transferring this functionality to phones where it wasn’t designed to be implemented amounts to a huge task for developers. This would almost certainly involve modifications to the radios, kernels and at other deep software levels, and with that comes the potential of bricking the device in question. Still, the Android community is a resourceful one at the very least, and it will be interesting to see what can become of this source code. If you want to try your hand at it, take a look at the code itself here. Good luck!
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The Qualcomm Snapdragon 620 has been spotted. That and much more news is covered by Jordan when he reviews all the important stories from this week. Included in this week’s news is the announcement of USB Type-C for the One Plus 2 and be sure to check out the article talking about the Sony Xperia Z3+ overheating and crashing the camera. That’s not all that’s covered in today’s video!
Jordan talks about the other videos released this week on XDA TV. XDA TV Producer TK released an Xposed Tuesday video covering XHangouts. Then TK reviewed the Montar Car Mount. Also, TK gave us an app review of MRU Widget. Pull up a chair and check out this video.
Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos
Check out Jordan’s YouTube Channel and Jordan’s Gaming YouTube Channel
The post OnePlus 2 USB-C Port & More! – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.
Hydrogen OS is an alternative ROM for OnePlus One users that quite unlike its Oxygen counterpart — it’s a redesign of many of stock Android foundations, especially in regards to organization and aesthetics. Hydrogen OS features eye-catchy animations and a design that is reminiscent to both Material Design and Aqua with similar behavior to the former but enough differences to make it unique.
While Hydrogen OS is still in beta with a release scheduled for July, you can try out the ROM on your OnePlus One and enjoy it without registering for the beta. XDA Senior Member natheux has now shared with us a download link to the latest v4 release, and this version brings new animations and general improvements to the aesthetics and performance of the phone, as well as better wake-up gestures. However, keep in mind that early reports in both the XDA thread and the OnePlus forums seem to paint this release as a hit or miss — some claim great battery life and performance, while others claim that there are problems with the touchscreen, gestures, crashes, freezes and even an alleged bricking.
If you do proceed, make sure to read both threads [1][2] carefully so that you minimize associated risks. Those of you who want to jump in might find quite a surprise, and the early reviews and screenshots look really good. You can find a video review of the v4 release below, where you can learn about its performance and features.
OnePlus One users: do you prefer Hydrogen OS, or Oxygen OS?
The post Hydrogen OS v4 Released + Download Link appeared first on xda-developers.
OnePlus keeps releasing detailS about their OnePlus 2 launch — but this time it is not one about the phone itself but rather its unveiling event. OnePlus claims that all product launches tend to be the same, so they are tying a new way of announcing their phone by “inviting us to their world”. Just what does this mean?
Their Virtual Reality launch will let viewers stand right with their team and fans as they unveil the flagship. You’ll be able to look around and feel part of the event in a new, unexplored way. This is a very interesting and innovative idea that can easily benefit these kind of events, so we are eager to see just where OnePlus will take the experience. The streaming is scheduled to begin on July 27, 7:00pm PT — write the date down on your cardboard!
If you don’t have a VR headset, that’s fine — OnePlus wants to help users out by making the experience straightforward, simple, and cheap. The company designed their own custom headset (based on Cardboard 2.0), which is mainly tailored to the OnePlus One, and is giving it out for $0 plus shipping costs. This headset is touted to be more durable, compact and cleaner than other variations. The company claims that they did not cut any corners on this product, but it is not currently available. You can head to their OnePlus Cardboard website regardless, and signup to be notified as soon as it becomes available.
Do you think a VR launch is a good idea? Let us know below!
The post July 27 OnePlus 2 Launch in VR & Free Cardboard appeared first on xda-developers.
One of the most practical use-cases for an Android Wear device is to get quick access to controls for current activities, like being able to pause or skip tracks whilst you’re listening to music. Spotify, despite being one of the most popular music streaming services around, hasn’t included Android Wear support in the past but had promised that it was to be included soon. Today, those on the crest of the wearable wave may be pleased to notice a new Spotify card appear on the device on their wrists.
Yes, Spotify is now rolling out an update that adds compatibility with Android Wear after a long period of notable absence. Once installed you should be able to see the new card featuring play and pause controls for your current music, with further options accessible after swiping to the right. These include the usual but essential controls for skipping tracks back and forth, and adjusting the volume. Swipe once more and you’ll find a way to browse your library and playlists, with control right down to specific albums, but no further. You can even choose from Your Stations and Spotify’s genre based playlists – essentially anything that can be already arranged in a simple list.
One slight annoyance is that you can’t actually launch Spotify initially from your wrist, instead you’ll need to have started the app on your phone already. Previously on their blog, Spotify had claimed you would be able to “browse and play music on the go – without ever having to pick up your phone”, so hopefully an app drawer entry or voice command support will appear in future versions to validate that claim. For now though, it feels well designed and intuitive, and the functionality should cover most bases. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, head over to the Play Store to download Spotify if you haven’t already, or just sit tight and await the update if you have.
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