Sprint LG G3 in US now getting Lollipop OTA

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BY Unknown 00:26 0

Sprint LG G3 in US now getting Lollipop OTA

News has come today that Sprint has started seeding Android 5.0 to its own LG G3 units. This is definitely good news for eager US users, as Lollipop has been around for the handset in Europe since December last year.

This new update comes only days after AT&T updated their own units. The package is already being seeded and according to Sprint will bring the following benefits to the handset:

• Material Design for fluid animation, multicolored themes and 3D views
• More efficient battery use
• Android™ TV support
• Notifications on the lock screen and customizable options with prioritized notifications for events, reminders, messages and calls
• Updated Lock Screen features allow users to quickly access notifications and active apps
• Enhanced low vision and color blind capabilities for added Accessibility
• Integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities
• Enhanced Messaging with Google Hangouts™ support for SMS and MMS and a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons
• Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ apps automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files

We have already had a chance to play around with Lollipop on the G3 and found that like many other smartphones the LG also behaves quite differently in performance benchmarks. If you are interested in what potential gains the OTA can bring you, take a quick look at our extensive post on the matter, as well as our equally thorough investigation of battery life with the new version.

For anyone on Sprint still not getting the update notification, check for it through the settings menu.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 receiving Lollipop OTA in Europe

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BY Unknown 11:00 0

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 receiving Lollipop OTA in Europe

Samsung's last generation phablet flagship finally received the much anticipated Lollipop treatment it was promised. And before the comment section goes up in flames about the on-going soak test in Russia the new ROM is intended for the most wide-spread Snapdragon 800-based version of the device (N9005) and not the Exynos one.

The Galaxy Note 3 was supposed to be first in line for Android 5.0 after the current generation Galaxy S5 and Note 4, but interestingly enough it was overtook by the Galaxy S4 LTE-A (I9506).

It seems that with recent developments around Samsung and their own in-house Exynos SoC taking center stage in future devices instead of Qualcomm chips the Korean tech giant is naturally focusing on their own architecture and pushing updates along much faster on Exynos devices. This might just be a marketing trick but it is still a fact that Samsung seems to be taking care of that limited line of devices first and then moving on to Snapdragon.

Regardless is seems the long wait is finally over for Note 3 users as the package is already available on major carriers in the UK, Austria, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary and a few other countries. You can keep a close eye on the OTA seeding progress here.

So if you are on a Snapdragon Note 3 be sure to check for that update package regularly as the Lollipop goodness is here.

Exynos Galaxy Note 4 is getting Lollipop OTA in Poland

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BY Unknown 18:51 0

Exynos Galaxy Note 4 is getting Lollipop OTA in Poland

With the Lollipop update frenzy at full speed manufacturers are pushing hard to update their device lineups as quick as possible. Naturally major players, such as Motorola, HTC and especially Samsung are under tremendous pressure to deliver the improved Google experience to their vast user base.

Just a few hours ago new information has surfaced, regarding Android 5.0 on the Galaxy Note 4 phablet. Apparently users in Poland are already receiving the OTA, but there are a couple of conditions.

The software package is only seeding to SM-N910C devices, which is the Exynos variant of the handset and only the ones using CSC XEO (Open Europe). If you are a lucky owner of such a unit then the update is now live so be sure to grab it while it's hot.

As a matter of fact Android Lollipop has been on the roadmap for Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge for quite some time now. Initial speculations hinted at Android 5.0.1 as the build under development, which coincides with the version of the new Polish OTA.

If other rumors are to be believed Samsung took such a long time to push Lollipop on the two current gen devices mainly because of Gear VR compatibility which was holding pack progress. Whether or not this is true is beside the point, what is important is that the Galaxy Note 4 update was postponed to the point of aggravation seeing how the Galaxy Note 3 is already undergoing a Lollipop soak test in Russia.

From the looks of things it also seems Samsung has opted to bring the new OS package to their own Exynos SoC devices first and then move on to the Snapdragon models. Judging from user manuals, leaked last month the whole Note 4 model family will be getting Lollipop and hopefully pretty soon.

OnePlus One gets major OTA software update

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BY Unknown 23:58 0

OnePlus One gets major OTA software update

The OnePlus One caused quite a stir in the mobile world when it was first introduced as a budget-conscious high-end hardware device. But what really helped it stand out among the crowd was perhaps the choice of CyanogenMod as a native OS.

While the handset does have a lot of shortcomings is still remains a tinkerer's dream with its alternative open approach and capable internals. Today the small, but dedicated Chinese team behind the device announced yet another official OTA for the OnePlus One. The release is still based ok CM 11S, so we are still looking at an Android KitKat-based ROM, but the latest 05Q release still brings a lot of features and fixes.

Among the most notable changes in the new version we find that the SwiftKey and MaxxAudio applications are now bundled with the OS. The OnePlus team also boasts improvements to BlueDroid, an updated configuration for NFC, updated media codecs (as well as enabled WMA DSP and AAC codecs), and a few security fixes. There are also some notable changes to the camera and modifications to various settings menus, throwing away unused options and bringing in new ones.

It is clear that the team is very active in developing the software and that is most of what the OnePlus One is all about. Third party developers area also showing a lot of love for the device. There is an overwhelming amount of unofficial ROMs available for the smartphone, ranging all the way from the Latest Lollipop CyanogenMod 12 to AOSP builds and pretty much all other popular custom Android flavors. In other words there is a lot of room for experimenting if you are not afraid to deviate from the beaten path and experiment with software beyond the official builds.

Here is a comprehensive changelog of the new 05Q build:

Recovery:

• Fixed dab with Linux 3.10

• Improved ADB Sideload

• Improved wipe confirmation screen layout

• Improved progress bar

General:

• Fixed wrong emergency call property

• Improved audio policy flexibility

• Increased void volume

• Improved light controls

• Updated WCNSS configuration

• Upgraded ADCB Files

• Powered HAL improvements

• Upgraded SQLite to version 3.8.6

• Reduced volume increment/decrement step per click

• Added support for Query SIM SMS capacity

• Upgraded TP firmware to 14001220

• Fixed headset insert/remove crash

• Fixed ability to hang up a call from a wired audio headset

Set Up:

• SetupWizard: Allow turning on mobile data if off by default

FileManager:

• Fixed force close when sharing multiple files over Bluetooth

FOTA:

• Displays download size as a decimal prefix

• Enabled scrolling on the system update screen

• Added Download clicked notification

• Shows download size on UI

• Updated Icons

• Added progress bar

CameraNext:

• Added letterbox view for to show actual capture in preview

• Added toast information to aid in first time use of Continuous shot

GalleryNext:

• Additional supported video types

Dialer:

• Blacklist, strip extension from number

• Fixed screen rotation behavior during call

Clock:

• Call events can be handled on alarm

• Fixed city and time zone entries

At this rate it seems more than likely that we will be seeing an official Lollipop CM ROM for the OnePlus One in the not so distant future.