If you can't wait to see what Android 6.0 Marshmallow will look like on your phone, you can give it a whirl by installing the new version's updated Google Now launcher.
The launcher has been extracted from the latest developer build of Android Marshmallow and has been made available to install for people with Android devices – no matter if they aren't developers or don't own a Google-branded Nexus device.
While the new launcher does give us a good idea of how Android M will look on our devices, there are some caveats, as some of Android M's most interesting features aren't included.
Toasted marshmallow
That means there's no Google Now on Tap, nor will the vertical app layout be present. Hey, at least you'll get some nifty Android Marshmallow wallpapers though.
Although it's a shame – though understandable – that the new features of Android Marshmallow aren't included, it will help you decide if Marshmallow is shaping up to be to your liking.
Downloading the launcher is quite straightforward, and you can get it from the APKMirror website. You can download it straight to your Android device, though to run it you'll have to make sure that your device can install apps from unknown sources. This can be toggled on and off in the Settings > Security menu.
We'll have to wait for the full release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow to get the full range of new features, but this should at least whet our appetites for Google's upcoming operating system update.
Google is finally doing its part to minimize its contribution to the scourge of bloatware.
Has anybody in the history of owning a phone ever wanted a Google+ app? Shitty preinstalled apps like Google+ on Android and Stocks on iOS are called “bloatware” because they’re stuck on the phone before you buy it, and are often either difficult or impossible to delete. They hog memory and serve no purpose and generally infuriate people.Why is the first thing I have to do when I get a phone delete a bunch of crap I don’t want?
With Google bloatware, most phonemakers either have to choose between too many Google apps or none: If phonemakers like Samsung or LG want to include actually useful tools like the Gmail app on their phones, they have to include a preset list of other Google apps as well. It’s an obnoxious Google rule. But the company is dialing back the restrictions: It’s getting rid of Google Play Games, Google Play Books, Google+, and Google Newsstand in its mandatory app bundle.
This doesn’t mean your next Android phone will be free of bloatware. Samsung, LG, and other phonemakers tend to include their own special brand of bloatware, as well as carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile. But hey it’s better than nothing.
Microsoft just stepped on Google’s toes, beating the search giant to the on-demand info finish line. Bing now has Now on Tap superpowers, thanks to an update that hit the Play Store this morning.
The new app update allows users to long-press the home button and get access to search results based on whatever image or text was on screen at that time. Bing’s app also makes sure these searches don’t interrupt whatever you were doing when curiosity struck.
Google’s ‘Now on Tap’ does pretty much the same thing–only it’s not available for the masses until Marshmallow launches this fall. The only thing that may set these two contextualized search features apart is finding out which search engine is better. Because ultimately, it’s Google versus Bing–and the question becomes which search engine can best identify the subject and find the information you want.
For now though, Bing’s update is out and we’re all curious to see how well it works. While Now on Tap won’t arrive until the fall with Marshmallow we assume the functionality will be better thanks to its native build. Still, Google should hope that people don’t adopt its rival’s useful feature too quickly. source: http://gizmodo.com
The update lets app developers customize the main screen of Android Wear.
Today Google announced an upcoming Android Wear update that adds interactive watch face support to the platform. Developers can now write watch face apps with customized layouts and buttons that reveal information and trigger new activities.
One app that takes advantage of the new API is the "Bits" watch face. Right from the watch face, this app lets you see appointments, unread e-mails, the weather, and more. Tapping on any of the circles will expand that section to take up the huge screen.
Google hasn't given a formal name to the Android Wear update, but the Bits app description says it requires "Android Wear 1.3." The update seems to let developers fully customize the main interface of Android Wear. Wearables don't really seem like a fully mature product category, so opening the floodgates of third-party innovation should be a boon to Android Wear. Before today, developers could only make static watch faces.
The update also has a special bonus for LG G Watch R owners: Wi-Fi support. Google says the update will come to all Android Wear devices over the coming weeks. source: http://arstechnica.com
BlackBerry's upcoming device is rumored to use Google's Android operating system (OS), in what could be the Canadian company's "last chance" to win in the smartphone market.
Philadelphia-based writer Evan Blass published images early Wednesday on Twitter, which he claimed showed the new BlackBerry smartphone model, dubbed Venice, set for release in November.
The big point is that it would ditch BlackBerry's own OS and run Android for the first time in its history. By adopting Android, the world's largest smartphone OS, BlackBerry is trying to appeal to a wide base of existing consumers.
"BlackBerry is taking the view that if you can't beat them, join them," Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, told CNBC by phone.
"BlackBerry OS is not as popular as it once was, so it's looking to move to Android to address the larger market on the consumer side."
BlackBerry has a tiny share of the global smartphone market and revenue from its hardware business declined 30.6 percent year-on-year in the three months ending May 30.
One of the biggest pain points for users is the lack of apps in BlackBerry's own app store, as well as a user experience that has lagged behind Apple's iOS and Android.
BlackBerry would not confirm if Wednesday's leak was true.
"We don't comment on rumors or speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched," a Blackberry spokeswoman said.
CNBC was unable to independently verify the veracity of the photos.
'Last chance'
If the Android speculation is true, it would continue BlackBerry's shift towards opening its software and services to other operating systems.
The Canadian company opened its BlackBerry Messenger service to the other mobile operating systems last year and in March released its security and enterprise apps as well.
Analysts said that a move to Android could be make or break for the future of BlackBerry's devices division.
"From a hardware perspective this is really one last chance for BlackBerry. They have stuck to their guns sticking with their own platform and what they believed was the right thing to do, but consumers have not seen it in the same way," Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director for ComTech at Kantar Worldpanel.
A preview of the upcoming device was provided during a BlackBerry press conference at the Mobile World Congress trade show in March. Few details were given, except that the device was a slider phone with a touch screen and keyboard.
Security is key
BlackBerry has billed its OS as one of the most secure systems, which is particularly important given its pursuit of enterprise customers.
Android, however, has a bad reputation as a much less secure platform, due to the open source nature of its OS.
If Blackberry does adopt Android, it will need to convince users it features the most secure version of the OS on the market.
"The most important is not whether the device runs Android or not, but it's about what kind of Google services will run on the device, and what kind of security Blackberry will bring on to it to make Android more secure," Francisco Jeronimo, a research director at IDC, told CNBC.
"How will they secure Android like no other vendor can do? If they manage to secure Android they will address the need from enterprises and end users." source: http://www.cnbc.com
US based design and manufacturing company Fossil were given the opportunity to show off their upcoming wearable range at Intel’s annual Developer Forum, which is currently under way in San Francisco. Among the three ‘connected’ devices shown off were a bracelet and two smart watches, one of which was Fossil’s anticipated Android Wear device.
No specifications or details about the devices were provided outside of the fact that it will be powered by an as yet unnamed Intel processor, and obviously one of them will run Android Wear.
From the images all that we know is that it appears the watch will have a “flat tyre” on the bottom of the display, ala the Moto 360. The device looks like a mix between the Moto 360 and an Lg Watch Urbane, with a shiny metallic frame and crown on the side, though unlike this generation Moto 360, lugs are attached for the watch band. The images also showed a range of leather and metal bands that may or may not be available as options for the watch when released.
As the device is running Android Wear we can expect that the software will be fairly standard from an OS perspective. We will have to wait for Fossil to formally announce the device and in which markets the watch will be released.
Google finally revealed what the M on stands for, but that wasn’t the only thing they did. If you’re a developer, you can now download the Android 6.0 SDK to get started creating apps or upgrading yours for the new OS.
What’s also new is that Google Play is now accepting API 23 apps, which are apps for Android M, via Google Play Developer Console on Alpha, Beta and Production channels. With this, developers can get started publishing their apps and having them ready for the new Android 6.0 release.
If you’re running the Android M Developer Preview 3 software on your Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player, you’re probably going to want to update your phone again.
Google has released a new version of the Android M Developer Preview 3 update. The old build, which was released earlier this week, was build MPA44G. The new build is MPA44I. You can find the new system images right here if you want to manually flash the update. Otherwise you can wait around for an OTA update to roll to your device.
So what’s different in these new builds? That much isn’t yet known, but if you’re using the Android M Developer Preview 3, it’s probably a good idea to update to the newest version. Not only do you want to avoid whatever it was that caused Google to release this new build, but if you’re using the Android M preview, you probably just want to be on the latest version of Android anyway.
Google pushed an update to its Android Auto app today refreshing the home screen to bring bigger, easier to see cards, particularly when using navigation and playing music. Previously, all stacked cards were of equal height. Now, the top activity card is double the height of any of the cards below. Being bigger not only makes them easier to see, but also easier to interact with on the touch screen.
As well as the updated user interface, there are a few bug fixes and performance improvements. You can download the fresh update right now from the Google Play Store. It’s a free update and requires Android 5.0 or later to work. Obviously, you’ll also need a car with a compatible built-in system, or a compatible after-market system.
You can find out more about Android Auto, including compatible vehicles, over at android.com/auto.
On Tuesday, Nuance Communications debuted what executives called “true” mobile versions of its popular Dragon dictation apps for iOS and Android, bridging them to new, updated Windows and Mac apps with a cloud-connected service.
This new platform, called Dragon Anywhere, consists of both of Nuance’s mobile apps as well as the service that connects those recordings back to new versions of Dragon for Mac and Dragon Professional Individual, a cheaper version of Dragon Professional for Windows. Dragon Anywhere isn’t cloud-based, where the processing takes place in the cloud—instead, the cloud just serves to transmit files back and forth between the various Dragon products.
But its competition isn’t standing still. When Dragon NaturallySpeaking debuted in 1997, dictating text via Windows was a novelty, even after Microsoft built its own dictation functions into the Windows operating system. (It’s still there in Windows 10.) Today, however, orally commanding Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri, or Google Now is relatively commonplace. If you’d like, you can still buy Dragon Dictation for iOS, or use the mic function that’s built into the Swype keyboard.
“But that’s all tuned to the short stuff, rather than actual document creation,” said Peter Mahoney, senior vice president and general manager of Dragon, in an interview with PCWorld.
Why this matters: With operating systems incorporating speech to command and control them, Nuance hopes that uses will become more frequent users of dictation—and quickly discover the limits of the operating systems that they routinely use. At the same time, Nuance’s new pricing models offer the barest acknowledgement that consumers are becoming more used to be free. But Nuance executives are also clear: Dragon is a premium product, with premium pricing.
On the go dictation
The idea behind Dragon Anywhere is that users can begin dictating notes on the go, then save them to the cloud. Later, they can either pick up the session on their phones or on the desktop apps.
The Android and iOS versions of Dragon Anywhere use the same Dragon engine that’s found on the desktop. Users train the engine using their voice, and can use customized words, voice shortcuts (macros, essentially) and frequently-used text. But the two mobile apps will be sold on a subscription basis this fall for either $15 per month or $150 per year, Mahoney said.
Nuance has priced its Dragon Professional Software at $600 for a single license—quite a bit to pay for dictation software. On Tuesday, Nuance will offer a cheaper option: Dragon Professional Individual, which will be offered for $300 (or $150 for those upgrading from Dragon Professional versions 12 and higher; or for $200 for users upgrading from Dragon Premium 12 and up). It too will offer custom words, the creation of text macros, and the ability to automate repetitive tasks.
Nuance will also offer Dragon for Mac, which will be available for download in the U.S., U.K., and Australia for $200 in early September, with special upgrade pricing of $100 for registered users of Dragon Dictate for Mac, versions 3 and higher. While it has the same core Dragon engine as the Windows version, it lacks some of the features, Mahoney explained, including the automation component. But it, like the Windows versions, will talk to Dragon Anywhere.
The new Dragon software is all speaker dependent, meaning that it’s really designed for one speaker: You. But Mahoney also showed off a capability in Dragon Professional that allows you to import speech files (such as an MP3) and run it through the Dragon software. Once you do so, it will ask you to “train” the engine for that speaker, correcting the first minute of audio as it plays back. Thereafter, Dragon will apply that speaker model to the rest of the speech. There are a few catches: The audio has to be sampled at 16 KHz or higher, and can only include one speaker. Dragon anticipates a day where it can transcribe audio with more than one speaker, but it’s not there yet. source: http://www.pcworld.com
The release of Android Lollipop (version 5.0) saw one of the biggest updates to the operating system to date, not only visually with a large splash of Material Design but also through the introduction of numerous backend functions and refinements.
While Android 4.0 finally unified the Android experience on smartphones and tablets, Android 5.0 sowed the seeds for Android powering a whole raft of new devices including smartwatches, televisions and even in-car technology. So what will the next version of the operating system bring?
Respond Native
What will Android M be called?
Google has finally taken the wrapper off the next version of Android and revealed it will be known as Android 'Marshmallow'. More importantly, it's also been given the version number 6.0, rather than the point update many of us were expecting. The announcement was made in a blog post on the Android Developers Blog. The blog post also announced the final software development kit (SDK) for Android 6.0 is now available for developers to get stuck into ahead of the autumn release of Android Marshmallow. For the brave and curious, preview system images are also available for many Nexus devices, including the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. Developers can begin uploading their updated apps to the Google Play Store in preparation for the wider roll out in a few month's time.
Google has also released this behind the scenes video of how the Marshmallow name came about as well as a look at how those famous lawn sculptures are made to commemorate each new Android release:
Android M release date
We got our first proper look at the new version of the operating system at Google’s annual developer conference - Google I/O. Android 5.0 Lollipop was debuted at a similar time of year and so we can make some pretty accurate presumptions about how things will pan out from here. An early summer announcement provides plenty of time for developer previews over the next few months and a full release probably around November, likely alongside a new Nexus device.
Android M review
With the Developer Preview now available, we've been able to flash onto our Nexus handset and give it a thorough going over. Now it's early days for the new version of Android, and we've seen a number of crashes usually in relation to connecting to Wi-Fi networks that have intermittent or limited connections, but generally the new Android is pretty stable. All the new features haven't been integrated yet, most notably there's no Now on Tap, see below. For our full take see Android M review.
Get Android M now
If you've got a Nexus 5 or Nexus 6 smartphone, or Nexus 9 tablet, then you can install Android M Developer Preview today. It's not straightforward, you'll need to be happy to wipe your phone entirely, download and install various tools and flash a new ROM to the wiped handset. The best description of how to do this we've found online is available from www.androidexplained.com, although we ran into problems with our Nexus 5 install and had to manually execute a number of CMD line instructions to get it working - you can find that information over at the www.ibtimes.co.uk. Obviously we take no responsibility if you render your phone useless in the process.
Android M new features
For our take on the early current version of the new operating system, see our Android M review - Hands on with Developer Preview. However that build doesn't include everything that Google has promised us in Android M when it launches, so here's a quick rundown of all the big new features.
Now on tap
The most obvious and impressive new feature demoed was Now on Tap. This takes Google Now and spread it out across the operating system, so that you can use it pretty much wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. You simply make a long press on the Home button and Now slides up from the bottom of the screnn over whatever you’re doing
It’s driven by some very powerful context sensitive, intelligent search algorithims. Which means it scans the content you’re looking at and provides information around that, which may be useful. For example, you could make a voice query such as ‘how old is he?’ while looking at a page about Hugh Laurie, and Now on Tap will pop up the answer - it knows which ‘he’ you’re referring to.
If you’re reading an email and it mentions a film you can quickly get local screening times, or reviews. And it ties into other apps now too, so Google Now will offer IMDB for example to provide more information on that film. It all looks very clever and it could make Now a key part of Android, rather than simply an aside that most people don’t use very often.
Doze
Google is again promising to improve battery life, but this time its standby power that’s getting the boost. Doze is a new technology that detects when the device is motionless and unused and goes into a deeper sleep mode, polling for updates less often, but still available for important incoming events like calls or VoIP.
In internal tests, Google found it doubled the battery life of a Nexus 9 tablet, we’re guessing a not-much-used Nexus 9. Still we’ve always found our iPad lasts for ages longer on standby than our Google-power equivalent, so it sounds like a good move.
App Permissions
App permissions are a bit of a pain in Android. The more open nature of the Play Store, compared to say the App Store, means that you’re forever giving apps endless permissions to do things, many of which you aren’t happy with.
Now app permissions are granted when used, not at installation. So the first time an app tries to access your camera, it provides a request to do so, and you can agree once or forever. This way apps that may have certain functions you don’t use, don’t have access to things you don’t need them to access. For example, Skype, if you only use voice calls it doesn’t need to access your camera.
There will be a smaller, simpler set of permissions now, and you’ll be able to go in and edit them either by app, or by permission type (say contacts or microphone). Updates are now more seamless for apps as updated permissions don’t require agreement at install.
Fingerprint sensors and Android Pay
Support for fingerprint sensors is being added in Android M, in conjunction with a push on Android Pay - which seems to have superseded Google Wallet entirely, initially you'll be able to authorise Play Store transactions and unlock your phone using the system. Phones with scanners will be coming soon, so expect them on every flagship handset in 2016. What we're really waiting on though is the ability to buy stuff using our phones, so we don't have to fish out our debit and credit cards to make quick purchases.
With Apple Pay finally rolling out in the UK, making use of the now widely spread Contactless payment system, we're hoping that Google steps up its game too and paying for lunch with your phone should soon be the norm. Although for this you will need a handset with NFC and preferably a fingerprint sensor, you could probably use a security PIN but that rather defeats the convenience of the whole system.
Multi-app, splitscreen support
The new operating system will also be able to run two apps side-by-side. We've seen this before on Samsung's Note devices, but it's never been a feature in Google's own version of Android. It will be a huge boon for users of biggers handsets, such as the Nexus 6.
Other bits
Google is adding Chrome Custom Tabs to Android. These allow app developers to create browser tabs in their own style, to make the move from app content to web content smoother, allowing apps to integrate web content without a visually jarring effect.
There will also be Improved linking between apps, so you’ll see a lot less of that annoying screen that asks you to pick which app you want to open your request. Certified apps will be able to ‘own’ links connected to them, for example by default the Twitter app will own Twitter links, and you’ll get taken straight to it should you click on one in a browser. You’ll be able to reassign these if you prefer another app, but by default it will be a far more seamless app-to-app experience.
What else do we want to see?
While Lollipop was a great evolution of the operating system, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Here are a few features we would love to see:
Integrated Android Wear support
Rather than needing you to install a separate Android Wear app to communicate with your smart watch, it would be great if this functionality was baked into the operating system and was more seamless.
Dark mode / night mode
There’s an awful lot of white used for stock Android 5.0 from the app drawer to menu bars. These aren’t great for battery life on certain screens but they’re also incredibly harsh on your eyes – especially at night. A dark mode would help but even better would be a mode that could filter out blue light that has been associated with negatively effecting your circadian rhythm; making it more difficult to fall asleep.
Manual camera functionality
Many smartphone manufacturers are including custom camera apps alongside their Android customisations, seen recently with the LG G4. These often offer far more manual exposure controls, something we would love the stock Android camera to have as well.
Better notification syncing between devices
Anyone that has an Android smartphone and tablet has probably gotten annoyed by notifications appearing on multiple devices that don’t get cleared when you acknowledge on one device. So if you get a Twitter notification on your phone and get rid of it, it’s still there on your tablet. It would be great if notifications were synced across devices so there was less duplication. It’s also especially annoying if you’ve not had your tablet on for a few days only to be greeted by a massive wave of notifications when you turn it back on as it catches up with notifications the device has missed (that you might have actioned or cleared from your smartphone).
More sophisticated data usage warnings
Previous versions of Android made it easier to keep a tab on your mobile data usage, useful for those on limited data tariffs. You could also set warnings so you knew when you were approaching your limit, which is handy. We would love to see more sophisticated warnings, such as day-to-day warnings so you could more easily ration your usage over the month. An optional data ticker in the notification bar could also be useful.
Smart app uninstalls
The storage option in the settings menu helps you get an idea of how your storage space is being used and distributed, whether by apps, music or videos. It would be useful if you could get recommendations on apps you could uninstall if you’re running low on space, this could be based on infrequently used apps, for example.
Ability to uninstall any app
Some of the pre-installed apps with Android have better alternatives, such as the Calendar. However, there’s no way to uninstall the stock apps, meaning they clutter up your app drawer even if you don’t use them. A way to uninstall these would be great.
Faster updates
This is a big one for many. Google is infamous for slowly rolling out updates in waves, meaning you could be waiting weeks before an update reaches your device. This is exacerbated by the need for manufacturers to make their own customisations. Having tighter control over custom skins, or making them completely optional, would speed things along.
More unlock options
Google has already embraced a number of new security features with Lollipop, such as one of our favourites, Smart Unlock, which removes the need to enter your PIN or pattern unlock when the device is connected to a trusted Bluetooth device or is in a trusted place. We would love for Google to adopt some other unlock methods we've seen from certain Android customisations such as tap unlocks.
Google has revealed what the M in Android M stands for: Marshmallow. The Android 6.0 update, set for release this fall, was first previewed at the company's I/O conference in late May. But as it's done before, Google held off on announcing the full name to build anticipation around the software. It's safe to say the company went with the obvious choice. Sorry, M&M's fans. And if you've ever wondered how those Android statues on Google's campus are made, this video offers a behind-the-scenes peek.
Along with finalizing the name, Google has also released the finished version of its Android 6.0 SDK and a third (and final) Marshmallow software preview that can be loaded on Nexus devices. "The preview images are near final but they are not intended for consumer use," Google said in a blog post. "Remember that when Android 6.0 Marshmallow launches to the public later this fall, you'll need to manually re-flash your device to a factory image to continue to receive consumer OTA updates for your Nexus device."
Android Marshmallow includes a simpler approach to permissions (while giving users more granular control over what information apps can access), Google's new Android Pay mobile wallet platform, USB Type-C support, and a number of tweaks and improvements throughout the operating system. It succeeds Android 5.0 Lollipop, which brought significant user interface and visual changes to the software last year.
It's believed that Google is working onnew Nexus smartphones that will be used to showcase Android 6.0 Marshmallow — one from Huawei, and a Nexus 5 sequel from LG that leaked over the weekend. Both phones are likely to include built-in fingerprint scanners, as Android 5.2 now natively supports the security measure as a way to log into apps.
This year, we've seen a surge of initiatives from platforms like Facebook, Apple, Google, and Microsoft for deep-linking capabilities. From Facebook's recent focus on deep links for app-install ads to Apple's push in iOS 9 for improved app search and discovery, one thing is certain: Deep linking is all about optimizing the end-user experience and engagement within your app.
The magic of deep linking is creating a seamless experience for your users both inside and outside of your app. Particularly, when you need to engage with your users about a specific feature or content within your app, you can leverage deep links to make this experience easy and accessible, instead of forcing them to launch an app and navigate through it. (Full disclosure: My employer, Adjust, makes deep-linking tools for mobile-app developers, but I'm not going to discuss those specfically in this piece.)
You've likely read a lot of theory about how deep links can improve mobile apps. But I haven't seen many resources that walk you through the actual technical process. Here are the steps you need to take when putting deep links to work.
First, Verify Whether the User Has Your App
In most instances, you can’t be certain that a user has your app on their device and can be deep-linked into it during a customer support request. If you want to use deep links in this context, you need to accommodate all users, regardless of whether they have your app or not. (Even returning users may have uninstalled it.)
There is a sneaky way to verify whether or not a user has your app on their device with deep links. Using JavaScript, you can “poll” your app by making the device try to access the deep link. When there’s a response, you know the app is installed and you’re able to send users over to the deep link.
If there’s no response, you can instead send users to the appropriate app store, website, or another location to guide your user through the next step.
To run this "poll', you can implement the JavaScript as a "race" between requests. By asynchronously requesting both URLs, you give the deep link a head start over the app store URL.
If the deep link doesn’t respond, the app store link will "win" the race and redirect the user to the store. The key is to do this subtly and unobtrusively. If you do it right, the logic will be executed quickly in the background and the user will be directly seamlessly to the next stage in order to resolve their request.
Next, Trigger Deep Links to Execute At the Right Time
If you've verified that the user uninstalled your app, you can send them to the app store to redownload it. But, remember that the user is expecting to see something specific in the app that pertains to their request. Once they've reinstalled your app, you'll still need to deliver on this request with a deep link. In this instance, you’ll want to defer the deep link by remembering it and executing it later.
When the user opens up your app after reinstalling it, you'll want to continue right where you left off, and send them directly where they need to go through a deep link. To do this, you need a facility to pass data past the app store.
On Android, you can use an install referrer that passes arbitrary data through the Google Play Store and then catches it in the app on the other side. This is an excellent opportunity to send the deep link and execute it with a request on the first open of the app.
On other platforms or app stores, the deep link needs to be remembered somewhere other than the device itself. You can place a server in the middle that can connect the initial deep link click to the reinstall and send the deep link to the app as soon as it’s reinstalled.
The easiest way to do this is to match device or user IDs from the click to the install and have your app transmit these as soon as possible. Once you match the user, you can simply send a message from your server to have the app reopen the deep link that brought them in.
Finally, Record Results to Improve User Engagement
To understand exactly how well you’re doing with the user experience, you’ll want to do some measurement. Consider recording this latest encounter with your user—a "reengagement"—in detail. The data you'll want to capture includes:
the deep link brought a user in
the type of creative that drove users to the deep link
the time that the user clicked through the deep link
And so on. From this data, you will then be able to associate each reengagement technique with specific results down the line, such as increased purchases or increased return visits.
Additionally, you can report on exactly how the user arrived into your app by capturing whether or not the deep link was triggered when the user entered the app or deferred until after reinstalling. Knowing the proportion of reengaged users who came through the deep link gives you insights into whether your app is staying on the device or not. Optimizing on the ratio between users who had to reinstall and users who just hopped back into your app can be a great benefit.
Creating a streamlined user experience and then measuring the results of re-engagement is just one of the many benefits from deep links. Done well, it creates a little extra magic in the experience for end users, which leads to increased loyalty.
NASA wants to bring their astronauts fully into the smartwatch age, and they want your help in making this possible, as the US space agency has launched a contest that is open the public and designed to help find a suitable user interface for crew devices on the International Space Station.
The purpose, according to NBC News, is to allow astronauts serving on the orbiting facility to have regular access to their schedules, the status of the station, and several other vital pieces of data all at the same time – without needing to lug laptops or tablets with them across the station.
Interface designs should used the Android-powered Samsung Gear 2 is a reference and should be created in PNG or JPEG wireframes covering a multitude of functions, such as a Crew Timeline app to keep track of the astronaut’s daily schedule, a color-coded cautions and warnings app, and an app that could be used to set timers for procedures or countdown to the next activity.
While the UI will need to cover those functions, Engadget notesthat the apps themselves do not need to be created as part of the competition and will likely be handled in house at NASA. They emphasized that the design should “direct attention to the appropriate information for a task and increase efficiency,” provide the necessary feedback, and be easy to read.
A chance to earn prestige (and a small cash award)
What does the developed who designs and creates the winning interface get for his or her efforts? The sum of $1,500, which the folks at Engadget argue “seems a bit chintzy for what sounds like a crucial app.” However, as NBC News counted, the real reward is “the honor of helping design an app for astronauts.” Not to mention that it would look good on a resume.
Officials at the US space agency are increasingly turning to crowdsourcing to come up with new designs and engineering concepts for its missions, according to The Verge. Back in May, NASA announced its “Journey to Mars Challenge,” which solicited ideas for ways to keep the crew safe as they travelled to the Red Planet, while requiring limited resupply missions from Earth.
Last month, they also went online seeking for new tool designs that could be used by Robonaut 2, the humanoid robot on the ISS, CNN.com added. During those contests, NASA provided an image of what each tool should look like, and asked inventors to come up with a realistic three-dimensional model of a workable design, for which they could receive $50 to $100.
Another security vulnerability has popped up on the Android platform. Jack Wallen tells you what to do to check if your device is susceptible to Certifi-Gate.
Listen up Android users... on many devices (such as those manufactured by LG, Samsung, HTC, and ZTE) there are support tools installed by default that enable companies to remote into your device to help you solve problems. Sounds like a great idea, right? Not when you find out that some of those tools suffer from a rather nasty flaw. This flaw, dubbed Certifi-Gate, was discovered by Check Point and revealed at Black Hat in Las Vegas. The flaw uses a remote support tool's security certificate to take total control over an Android device.
Unfortunately, the Android platform offers no means of revoking the certificates issued to the vulnerable apps. The only way Certifi-Gate can be fixed is for the makers of the remote support tools to issues patches. This means that you are at the mercy of a third-party, and not all third parties are created equal.
But which apps are vulnerable? Here's the official list from Check Point:
First and foremost, if you've installed any of these apps, or find them on your devices, remove them. If you're not sure (or you've removed the app and want to ensure the removal didn't leave behind a vulnerable certificate), you're in luck, because Check Point has created an app that will scan your device to make sure you're good to go. The app is called Certifi-Gate Scanner. Let's install it and run it to scan a device.
Installation
Here are the steps for installation:
Open the Google Play Store on your Android device
Search for certifi-gate
Locate and tap the entry for Certifi-Gate Scanner by Check Point
Tap Install
Read the permissions listing
If the permissions listing is acceptable, tap Accept
Allow the installation to complete
On your home screen or from within the app drawer, you can now launch the Certifi-Gate Scanner app.
Usage
Scanning with the app is quite simple. You start it up and tap the big, round Scan button (Figure A). The app will go through your device and quickly scan for any vulnerabilities.
I first installed TeamViewer to see if Certifi-Gate Scanner would catch any vulnerabilities. It didn't. This doesn't surprise me, as TeamViewer has always been quick to patch vulnerabilities. After that scan, I installed the other known vulnerable apps and ran the scan. Each scan came up clean. This, of course, could be a false-positive, as I haven't made a connection with any of the apps... so, there likely hasn't been a certificate generated by and for the app.
This doesn't mean you're safe. You might have an old certificate on your device that could render it vulnerable. Even if you believe your device is free of these apps, or you've read that the companies have patched their software, install and run Certifi-Gate Scanner anyway.
Should you come up with a vulnerable device, search for the app in question and check to see if it has an available update. If so, run the update immediately. If not, remove the app until the app developer has issued an update to fix the vulnerability.
I want to make this very clear... this is not something to scoff or ignore. If you have a remote support tool on your device (even outside of the three listed), you must install and run Certifi-Gate Scanner or, if possible, remove the remote support tool. The only issue, according to Check Point, is that even removing the offending software (if possible) will not remove the threat. To that end, Check Point has created a new service, Check Point Mobile Threat Prevention (which seems geared toward larger deployments of Android devices and not individuals). Check Point has also contacted Google and vulnerable manufacturers regarding the technical details of the issue. Hopefully, this means Google (and affected OEMs) will be issuing patches with more efficiency than they've patched Stagefright.
Are you listening Google... Alphabet... whatever we're to call you now?
Keep diligent, people! Check for updates often, and scan, scan, scan.
Do you think the recent glut of Android vulnerabilities points to an overall weakness in the platform, or were these two issues coincidental? Let us know your thoughts in the discussion thread below.
Google may have rolled out Android M to developers for quite some time now, but as usual, the company is keeping its mouth shut about what sweet treat Android M will be named after.
That doesn't mean Google is not having fun being such a tease about what Android M is going to be called. Two Googlers, Nat and Lo, have revealed a new YouTube video that does nothing but simply highlight the enigma that is Android M's name, to the tune of a funny little jingle that also gives credit to all the other deserts that the past Android versions have been named after, from Cupcake to Lollipop.
"Android's got me hangin' on, wondering what new food would be on the lawn. All I know is that it starts with M. It keeps me guessin' again and again," the surprisingly catchy jingle goes.
There aren't any spoilers, though, and Google just makes it that much harder for us to guess which one Android M is going to be, as the jingle goes on with the long list of desserts that start with M, including Milkshake, Malt Ball, Moon Pie, Macaroon, Marshmallow, Muffin, Mocha, Madeleine, Marzipan, Mousse, Macadamia Brittle, M&M, Mocha, Mango Lassi, Milk Duds, Maple Syrup, Molten Chocolate Cake, Meringue and Molasses.
One thing is for sure, though. Google is not likely going to refer to the next iteration of Android as Molasses. Ever heard of the phrase "slower than molasses"? Google will not live to tell the embarrassing tale if Android M suddenly encounters speed issues.
Did Nat and Lo drop any hint at all? Well, there could be one that points to Marshmallow. At the end of the video, it shows a man spray painting in white what is going to be the next Android statue to grace the Google headquarters' lawn. The statue appears to be the cylindrical shape of a regular Android, with two smaller cylinders as legs, leading many to speculate that Android M is indeed going to be Marshmallow. But then again, there really is no knowing until Google reveals the final name.
With Google already working on Android M's name and statue, it is likely not going to be long before a stable version of the software is ready for release. While last year's Android Lollipop was a huge makeover, Android M focuses on smaller changes that allow users to take more control of their smartphones.
With the official stable release of Android Studio v1.3 a couple of weeks ago, it's time to begin testing the next string of new features. The first preview release of version 1.4 is now in the Canary channel, and it's sporting some big new features. The Android Tools team has been working on the new theme editor first demonstrated in the I/O session titled What's New in Android Development Tools. There are also new performance monitors for GPU and network activity, a vector asset wizard for turning SVG files into XML vector drawables, and a few new lint checks.
Here is the Google I/O session video cued up to the beginning of the theme editor demo at 36 minutes:
Theme Editor
The new theme editor examines the styles in a project and displays visual samples of what controls should look like on a live interface. Developers can make changes to various attributes directly through the theme editor and see them updated in the live preview. For the initial release, only colors and color state-lists are supported, but many other attributes will be coming in future releases.
Vector Asset Wizard
Android Studio v1.4 Preview 1 is available now in the Canary channel. As usual, the Android Tools team advises developers to keep two copies of Studio on a machine, one that remains on the Stable or Beta channels, and another that can update with the Canary builds.
The other new tool offered by the vector asset wizard is a handy icon importer that picks from the Material Design vector icon library. For now, the icon import functionality is still a bit limited, but a future release of the Gradle plugin is expected to improve its capabilities by generating custom-colored icons as part of the build process.
Performance Monitors (GPU and Networking)
The final big addition is a pair of performance monitors for GPU rending and Network performance. The GPU profiler graphs usage for any connected process, which can be useful for tracking drops in framerates and identifying problem areas. Likewise, the network profiler measures usage by processes to determine when and how much data is traveling over the air (or the wire) because of your application.
Android Studio v1.4 Preview 1 is available now in the Canary channel. As usual, the Android Tools team advises developers to keep two copies of Studio on a machine, one that remains on the Stable or Beta channels, and another that can update with the Canary builds.
Amazon is back at it. The online retailer has yet another giant Android app sale available to Android device owners, offering up 39 premium Android apps as free downloads right now, for a total value of over $90. All you have to do to get them is log into the Amazon Appstore and download the discounted apps, but you’ll have to act fast.
Similar to previous Amazon app sales, the offer is valid only for a limited time. This free app bundle is available to buyers for a couple of days, expiring on August 15th at midnight PDT.
The bundle contains several popular paid apps and games, and while you may already own some of them, chances are you’re still going to find something new to download. Check the list of free Amazon apps below, and follow this link to download any (or all) of them.
